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OR, 






MEDITATIONS IN VERSE FOR THE 
SUNDAYS OF A YEAR. 

By Wi- M.ORLEY J^^UNSHON, ]^-Ji- 




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PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & LANAIIAN, 

200 MULBK R RY-STRK ET. 
18G8. 



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PREFACE. 




pM^'O those whose "heart is as my heart" I 
1 offer this little volume, the offspring of a 
year's enforced pause amid the activities of 
a busy ministry. I covet for it, chiefly, three 
successes : that, if God wills, it may be a messenger 
of mercy to the wandering; that it may be a 
comforter to the troubled ; and that it may be a 
memory of the writer to many friends. 

W. M. P. 

Redland, Ftbruary, 1867. 



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COI^TEI^TS. 



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Page 

Advent 11 

Kpiphany 25 

Faith, (Septwifjcsimu) 43 

Hope, [Sexwjesima) 46 

Love, ( Quinquagesina) 49 

Lent 53 

Easter 70 

"Whitsuntide 91 

Trinity 94: 

SaBUATH MoiiMNG 189 

Sabbath Evening 192 

Christmas Day 197 

Good Friday 200 



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I SABBATH CHIMES. I, 

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Jk: The voice of him tliat crietb in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, ^ 
A malce straight in the desert a highway for our God. — Isaiah xl, 3. 'l 



"^ i' W^^;fc^ITH lightnings belted, cloud and tempests broke -S 

F '^tl^ily ^^^ Sinai's sacred crest, „J^^ 

■^ jiWEmJ When God before affrighted Israel spoke -i| 

>.^ ' -^'W''P His high behest. '] 

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j' In the cleft rock the cow'ring Prophet gazed > 

\. Upon the God unknown, ~|f' 

jiK Wliile, round the Awful Form, such brightness blazed '% 

\ As gu'ds the throne. I/:. 

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"i^ By many a gleam throughout the dazzled dark J,^ 

^ He shamed his people's fear : *, 

»A. And Seers in desert visions bade us mark | 

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ii His Presence near. 9 






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SABBATH CHIMES. 



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Still speak the voices, not ^A-ith accents stern 

Nor boding words of wrath, 
As when the fieiy cross is wont to burn 



Wlien pelts the frightened hail upon the panes, 
Stern Winter rules as king : 
The sweet-breathed zephyrs and the gentler rains 
Herald the Spring. 

Though from the wilderness the summons swells, 
" For God the way prepare," 
The spirit of a milder Advent dwells 

Within its prayer. 



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Straight to our hearts it reaches, 'mid the throngs 

Of thoughts which come and go, 
As on dull ears of age a mother's songs 

Sound clear and low. 

It beats upon the spirit with a sense 

Of softest, holiest calm ; 
A fragrant soul-myrrh ; — a kind influence 
Of healing balm. 



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He comes ! the Saviour ! haste to make him room ! 
Speed with your contrite vows ! 
Wear all the jewels ! scatter the perfume ! — 
As fits a spouse. 






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SABBATH CHIMES. 



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Prepare his way ! no wasteful tliouglits and rude, 

No dalliance with sin, 
Must greet his march, nor on his sight intrude 
When he conies in. 

When he is nigh, no lion-lust must walk 

Over the swarded green ; 
No ravening beasts through trampled pastures stalk 
In rage unclean. 

The way is called holy. All is still. 

And j)ure, and heavenly bright, 
As the sweet rose-hearts, which the dew-drops fill 
On summer's night. 



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Where quiet ones in thoughtful moments stray 

He lingers by their side. 
Flings a rare charm on their Emmaus-way, 
And loves to 'bide. 

In upper rooms, where tarry earnest souls. 

He i:)asses through shut doors ; 
And heaven comes floating in as mornmg rolls 
On golden floors. 

O Advent blessed ! Lord ! we wait for this 

In hush of watching love ; 
Wait in thy temple ; wait, to prove the bliss 
All bliss above. 



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14- SABBATH CHIMES. 

Come to thine own ! come to thy wishful bride 1 
Shed thy pvu-e love abroad, 
And each heart shall become a clean and wide 
" Highway for God." 



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J-duaut* 



II. 



Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, 
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the Are shall try every man's 
work of what sort it is. —1 Corinthians iii, 13. 



Y trifles, iii our common ways, 
! » Our characters are slowly piled : 
--V, j We lose not all our yesterdays ; 
<^=^ The man hath something of the child : 
Part of the Past to all the Present cleaves, 
As the rose-odors linger, e'en in fading leaves. 







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The habits of each wayward hour 

Increase by their indulgence gain, 
Till we are slaves beneath their power ; 
Yet all unconscious of our chain ; 
And to our fancied independence cling, 
As birds which, in their cage, the songs of Freedom sing. 

Never did flood sweep through the vale 

Without some ravage left behmd ; 
Some wreck to turn a young face pale ; 
Some household comfort undermined : 
So hath each moment, used or wasted, left 
To all an added grace, or of some charm bereft. 




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16 SABBATH GHIMEH. 

As when the ancient Temple rose, 

In silence must the work be done ; 
As light upon the morning flows, 
(The bright dower of the silent sun,) 
So heedless men their busy tasks have plied, 
Nor known what palaces were rising by their side. 




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In ceaseless toil, from year to year, 

Working with loath or willing hands. 
Stone upon stone we shape and rear. 
Till the completed fabric stands ; 
And, wdien the last hush hath all labor stilled, 
The searching fire will try what we have striven to build. 



Or firm in its abiding strength, 

Or starting from th' unstable sand, 
" The day " shall manifest at length 

Each cunning thought in secret planned ; 
And woe to that which will not bear assay 
When burns the testing flame, when breaks th' avenging 
day! 



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Full oft, in some unhai3py night. 

The fire hath wn'apt around a house 
Where Care had hid his griefs from sight. 
And slumber stole o'er aching brows. 
And startled sleepers, 'mid the fiery strife, 
Are rudely roused fi'om di-eams, and battle for dear life : 



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SABBATH CnillES. 17 

Then all that darkness had concealed 

Is by the ghastly dawn declared ; 
And in that sick'ning light revealed, 
No household mystery is sj^ared ; 
There was no time to alter — 'mid the blaze ; 
Just as tiiey were, they met the stranger's cmious gaze. 

And is it to be so at last ? 

All our life-work disclosed and tried ! 
In memory of the faithless past 
Who may the stern assize abide ? 
Those who, on Sion's sure foundation old, 
" Build " steadfast, day by day, the " silver " and the " gold." 








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Art thou lie that should come, or do we look for another? — Matthew xi, 3. 

OWN tlie dark vale of time full many a glance, 
From lier retu-ement lone, 
y The longing Churcli hath thrown, 

;!;^2^^ Student of psalmist's song, or prophet's trance ; 

(]\Ieek watcher through the ages ;) to descry 
The Shiloh pledged of old, and hail his advent nigh. 




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" Lo here ! lo there ! " on the bewildered sense 

The haughty trumpets peal ; 

The false Messiahs steal 
Weak hearts away on shallowest pretense, 
In new revolts to j)lace their fruitless trust. 
Be Im-ed where danger fro-mis, then left to shame and dust. 



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Let a frail reed be shaken by the wind, 

And curious feet will i)ress 

Into the wilderness. 
Haply the long-expected Seer to find, 
"Wliose day the Patriarch, through long years discerned. 
At whose name old men leaped, and holy matrons yearned. 



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E'en yet tlie false Clirists, 'mid the multitude 



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1 SABBATH CHIMES. 19 T 

%' Tlu'ougli baffled liope lives on the unquenched desire ; •;*- 

h^ And as the hopeful bees /)«- 

^, Keep murmui'ing to the breeze J^ 

fProjDhetic whispers of gay summers nigher, ^X 

So, though rebuked full oft, men waited still, Jt- 

T Till Sion's conquering Lord should stand on Sion's hill. iT 

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"^ Not with the meteor's flash, but as the light, I 

4^ Which, on the still world rolled, "^ 

Y^ Breaks to a morn of gold, ^- 

% But in its noiseless march no infant's night -g, 

l'^ Is rudely ended, He by Jordan trod ; ^ 

-> And the brave herald saw, and owned the " Lamb of God." ^. 

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Y Yet in men's wondeiing hearts doubts rose and grew. ^r 

"Y^ Obscure, despised, forlorn, w"- 

'% A mark for scowl and scorn ; '^ 

.&, Yet steadfast as a star. Can He be true ? fj^ 

j{" Then, like a bright stream struggling to be free. 

Forth flashed the eager question, " Tell us, art thou He "i " 



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■^ Of suitors with bold brows 

^' "Who come to woo the Spouse, 

% TJpon her constancy of love intrude ; 

-^ And fain would breathe susijicion on her troth, 

3 And leave her, like themselves, false to her word and oath. 

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But thou, Lord ! wilt stoop to us infiiTu ; 

Love to resolve our doubt, 

And bring us gladly out 

Of our soul's prison ; as from some dark germ 

The sweet rose crimsons ; till, all doubt at rest, 

We lie, like the Beloved, enraptured on thy breast. 



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We too have mourned, because our carnal dream 

Of pomp and courtly state, 

And guards at palace gate- 
Base lights of earthly kingdoms — did not gleam 
Thy face around when thovi didst come to reign ; 
But that thy crown was thorn — thy kingly tribute, pain. 



Like the stern priests and scribes who made thee grieve, 

We could not bear thy loss. 

" But come down from the cross. 
And our swift souls will hasten to believe.''' 
O tear this Jewish traitor from within ! 
O cast it from our hearts — this shame of earthly sin ! 



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Bid us be of the malefactor taught — 
The felon by thy side. 
Who longed " with thee " to abide 

In that new heaven just opened to his thought ; 

And saw, while e'en discij^les' eyes waxed dim, 
The royal hosts of God — the prostrate Seraphim. 



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Still is our faith assured by thousand signs ; 

The blind are beauty's heirs ; 

And from demoniac lairs 
Sound strange hosannas. E'en the dark grave shines 
With heaven-light streaming through it at both ends— 
A sepulcher disused, and tenantless of friends. 



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'Mid the world's strife of tongues to thee we cling. 
We cease our endless quest 
For other than the best : 
Thou art our Prophet, thou our Priest and King ! 
Here will we give our home-sick longings o'er. 
For Thou hast come ; our love, our avarice ask no more. 



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IV. 

Let your moderation be known i;nto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be 
careful for nothing.— Piiilutians iv, 4, 5. 



SPEAK not thus to hearts all palpitating 
In changeful agonies of sad suspense ; 
Which hope and dread by turns ; the days awaiting 
With a numb, weary sense : 



When all the glory from the heaven is vanished, 

As fantasies of sleep before the dawn ; 
While the poor hope, like exile newly banished. 
Yet lingers — homeward drawn : 







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Wlien, all the rapture of the summer over, 
' The flowers are withered in each woodland haunt. 
And not a lark, from out the tufted clover, 
Has heart enough to chant : 



Wlien on the wall the shadows gather blanker, 

Wliile hopeless illness wastes, or madness raves , 
When the o"er-freighted bark, without an anchor, 
Drifts on the scoffing waves : 




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SABBATH CHIMES. S3 

When all the store of love, so closely cherished, 
By tyrant hand is snatched from the embrace ; 
And all the light of the rich past has peiished 
Out of the dumb white face : 

When the struck souls lie prostrate with repining. 

And look defiant on the happy sun. 
Which shines so bright, they almost grudge his shining 
And wish the day were done : 

Wlien stern fate bids the heart live on, though breaking. 

As palsy never lifted from the limbs, 
Or, o'er a dead child, some crazed mother making 
Rude melodies of hymns : 

O heap not on these inner fires the fuel. 

Nor tempt the loud rebellions you condemn ! 
Grant them at least your silence. It were cruel 
To speak of peace to them. 



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Yet the words change not. " Be for nothing careful. 

Neither for present want nor future dread ; 
But while Christ tarrieth, let your spiiits prayerful 
Keep listening for his tread." 

Solemn they sound ; like angels of compassion 

To this low world on some loved errand bent ; 
And yet not angels, but in some strange fashion 
With human natures blent. 



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^^ SABBATH Cni3IES. 

They bid us not rebel, in foulest treason 

To every earthly faculty and faith ; 
They meet our souls in truce, and furnish reasou 
For all the Scripture saith. 






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" The Lord at hand ! " then why should we surrender 

To any meaner claim our spirits' keys ? 
Or, faithless warders, open to pretender 

What valor ne'er could seize ? 



"Wliy, in our care-worn souls, should pulses riot 

"With passion frenzied, or with joy elate, 
When from God's calming presence breathes a quiet 
Upon the heart and state ? 

O what are these, our bitterest self-denials. 

The griefs that make our roses drop so soon, 
But God his children leading, through night's trials, 
To an eternal noon ! 



Then hush, ye passionate voices ! all-sustaining 

Is the great comfort of our coming Lord ; 
Already is the long sad midnight waning, 

For we can trust his word. 






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S ABBA TH CHIIIES. 



i\n\i\iixxi\}. 



I. 

TLey stoned Stephen, calling upcn God, and saying. Lord Jesus, receive 
my spirit. — Acts vii, 59. 

/^^^^^HEY cast him forth, fierce in their rage and hate, 
^'"si/^ffi^^ Outside the city gate ; 

U^ While from his angel-flxce a luster streamed 



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So bright, so pure, it seemed 
As if already heaven had let down 

Her child's awaiting crown. 



He, of the martyrs' host the eldest born. 

Reckless of earth's poor scorn, 

Wise by the faith of many ripening years 
Al)ove his T\dsest peers, 

Through the dark vail of flesh the Godlicad knew. 
And died to prove him true. 







As when ^-ild clouds, struck l)y the lightning's brand 
Deluge the frightened land, 

So fell man's deadlier shower, more prompt to kill ; 
Slave of more cruel will : 

Soon on the ground a battered casket lay ; 

The gem had 'scaped away. 
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S6 SABBATH CHIMES. 

They gazed uijon the ruins of a prison, 

From which a mmi had risen ; 

And, like a sunrise on a d}-ing storm. 

Came many an angel form, 

And sang, amid a silence rapt and deep, 

" He gives his loved ones sleep." 



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^Yhence was the goodly strength upon him poured 
But from his visioned Lord? 

Sttift, or to chide the wavering, or the o'erfi-aught 
To Tsin to brighter thought, 

Seen by a faith which nothing could estrange. 

Through all life's cm-ves of change. 



AMio look on Christ mto his image grow, 
Bum with diviner glow, 

Wrestle intrepid in the spirit's strife, 

And gather strength for life ; 

As troops are brave to scale the fire-swept hill 
Bv dint of daily di-ill. 



We crave thy likeness, Lord ! our upward eyes 
"Would fain to thee arise ; 

Leave each fau- pageant, each imholy shrine, 
And, fastened all on thine, 

Transformed by the blest gaze, aspire to stand 
" Faultless " at thy right hand. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. ^7 

Tbougli in theii* baffled rage the heathen groan, 

Christ sits upon the throne. 
To crush his foes, to screen his ovni from ill. 

Kingly, he sitteth still ; 
" Exijecting," not imj^atient, till the chime 

Shall somicl the last of Time. 

But, when fi-om raurcFrous hands the martyrs break, 

He rises — for their sake ; 
He, whom no shock of battled worlds could move, 

In recomi3ensing love, 
Rises., to give, whene'er his Stephens come, 

Their warmest welcome home. 



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28 SABBATU QHIMES. 

^ II. 

A little leaven leavenetb the whole lump.— 1 Coeintoians v, C. 
Whatsoever a man sowcth that shall he also reap.— Galatians vl, 7. 



'k i^M *^PEAK not of trifles liglit as air, 



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J^ Or froth of Ocean's pride ; 

For tilings, on which no thought we spare, 
^.^ / The mightiest forces hide. 
As slumbers, in the clod, the fire. 
As lingers music in the lyre, 
So future destinies are born 
From hours of prayer, or hours of scorn. 



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Wliere God in generous fullness dwells. 

Nor small nor great is known ; 
He paints the tiniest flowret-cells 
O'er emerald meadows stro\\Ti ; 
And sees, but not with kinder eyes. 
The heavens grow rich with sunset dyes ; 
Both niinistrant to beauty's sense. 
Both signs of one Omnipotence. 



He comes not forth with pageant grand 
"a/ His marvels to perform ; 

Ja. A cloud " the bigness of a hand " 

■^ Can blacken heaven with storm. 

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SABBATH CHIMES. 



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A grain of dust, if lie arnir.ge, 
The fortunes of a planet change. 
An insect reef can overwhelm 
The stately navies of a reahn. 

There are no trifles. Arks as frail 

As bore God's prince of old, 
On many a buoyant Nile stream sail 

The age's heirs to hold. 
From Jacob's love on Joseph shed, 
Came Egypt's wealth and Israel's 1)read ; 
From Ruth's chance gleaning in the corn. 
The Psalmist sang ; the Cluist was born. 

Each sjjirit weaves the robe; it wears 

From out life's busy loom, 
And common tasks and daily cares 

Make up the threads of doom. 
Wouldst thou the vailed future read ? 
The harvest answereth to the seed. 
Shall Heaven e'er crown the victor's brow ? 
Ask tidings of the battle now. 

O wise beyond all wa-itten page 

Are those who learn to say, 
" Less worth were centuries of age 

Than golden hours to-day ! " 
For in the present all the past 
And future years are folded fast. 
And in each laden moment lie 
The shapes of an eternity. 






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80 SABBATH CRIMES. 



III. 

Ileturn unto tliy rest, O my soul. — Psalm cxvi, 7. 

-'HERE is the rest we long to gain, 
The rest beyond decaying ? 
i^^~^^=^^ Our life-long chase of shadows vain 
--^N>i^^ '^ ^'"^^ wrought our heart's betraying; 
Our harps are sadly mute from sound, 

And hang on strangers' willows ; 
Our dove no sheltering home hath found. 
But wearies o'er the billows. 



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In restless pain we heave and toss 

Like playthings of the Ocean ; 
And mourn -with sharpest pangs of loss 

Dead objects of devotion. 
We follow light where'er it gleams, 

Though marsh and mist encumber ; 
We reign, anomted kings, — in dreams, — 

But wake, forlorn, from slumber. 

We grasp at grains of shining dust. 
But in the grasp they perish ; 

We put in men's applause our trust — 
It cheats the hopes we cherish. 





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SABBATH CniMES. 



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Remorse — a ghostly shadow — blights 
Each wreath we weave for pleasure ; 

But restless still we scale the heights, 
Or search the mines for treasure. 

O, naught of earth can e'er avail 

While Eden-mem'ries haunt us ! 
Our longings are on larger scale 

Thau lower worlds can grant us. 
We pant within the vail to be, 

To roam in fields elysian, 
And, "in his beauty," God to see 

Nor die beneath the vision. 

He only " in His likeness " made 

Our souls in the beginniBg ; 
And he the costlier ransom paid 

To bar the doom of sinning. 
He who the stars in courses keeps, 

And governs cold Orion ; 
He lifts us from the restless deeps, 

And plants om- feet on Sion. 

To Him, long strayed, we venture back, 
Nor 'mong dark mountains wander; 

God pledges peace upon the track, 
And endless welcomes yonder. 

E'en now each grateful spirit hears 
His voice the lost ones calling — 

" Return ! your eyes shall cease from tears, 

Yom* feet be safe from falling." 
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^4- S ABB A TIT CHIMES. 



IV. 

But Tvhile men slept, Lis enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, 
and went his way.* — Matthew xill, 25. 

f^ HE furrows are straiglitly drawn 
In the freshly-opened soil, 
And in the blush of the amber dawn 
The sower goes forth to toil. 

He fears not the winter's frown ; 

He knows, as he hastens on. 
From each good seed that he flingeth down 

May a sevenfold store be won. 




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He can trust the land for wealth. 
For Nature is not forsworn. 

Unless some enemy work by stealth 
He shall sing 'mid shocks of corn. 



In the chill and secret night, 

While he sleeps away his cares. 
And di-eams that the harvest-moon is bright. 

That enemy soweth tares. 

* This subordinate lesson may fairly be drawn from the Parable of the 
Tares, though, in its original utterance. It had of course another application. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

Till the long, long months are si^ed, 

Till the wheat is riijc in ear, 
Till fields art gay with the reaper's tread, 

Will the noxious weeds ajipear. 

And if some one asketh, Whence 
'Mid the precious come the vile ? 

'Tis when slumber steals the captive sense 
The enemy works his wile. 

Ah me ! how often are stro-mi, 

In the wider human field, 
Those evil seeds which, untimely sown, 

Will a baneful harvest }deld ! 

The enemy doth not sleep, 

But, as with an eldritch spell, 
He works, with a barbarous craft and deep, 

The ill from the seeming well. 

He breathes on the good desire. 

And stifles its upward aim ; 
He kindles the passion's lambent fire 

Into a mm-derous flame. 



S§ 



He breathes on thrift, and it turns 

To a hungry greed of gold ; 
On zeal, and the red-browed anger bm-ns 

Like a bale-fire on the wold ; 






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S6 SABBATH CRIIIES. 

On self-resjject, and it fumes 
Like a war-liorse in its pride ; 

On faith, and it cowers in darkened rooms 
Wliere ghostly visitants glide. 



4 



He whispers fear, and it pales 

In the feebleness of fright ; 
He clouds the heaven till the pole-star fails 

To cheer the mariner's sight. 

Restless and fierce as a flood 

Which death on its bosom bears — 

Thus ever at work to blight the good, 
The enemy soweth tares. 

Watch ! Watch by the furi-ows dark, 

Till the weary night is done. 
And o'er the ridges the herald-lark 

Is sent to announce the sun. 



4 




If the eyelids wakeful keep. 

Ye are warned against the foe ; 
'Tis when brain and heart are still with sleep 

That he ventureth forth to sow. 



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SABBATH CHI3IES. 



V. 

The meu of Nineveh shall rise in the juclsment with this generation, and shall 
condemn it. — Matthew xii, 41. 

S Oil some queenly forehead shines a rare and 
-^^^ costly gem, 

w^ So shone the truth — all price beyond — in ftiir 
%^J^ Jerusalem ; 

The Truth Incarnate through her streets in weary sojourn 

trod, 
And, truer than her i^riesthood knew, her Temple guested 
God. 

No timid prophet, frightened 'neatli the burden which he 

bore. 
Spoke sadly in her stately halls one waruuig, and no more ; 
But God's own Son revealed himself by many a healing sign, 
And from theii' graves the dead came forth to witness him 

divine. 

No lightnings clave the shuddering air around his Saviour- 
path, 

No hearts turned, sick'ning, from a voice which spake of 
naught but wrath ; 

But loving word and loving deed hope to the vilest gave, 

That he had come from foulest sin and fiercest doom 
to save. 



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But as, wlien swept by angiy winds, tlie waves more angry 

swell. 

So o'er tliat city proud and stern no contiitc silence fell ; 
But louder rang her rebel songs, and scornful in her pride, 
Alike the love of Heaven she spurned, and wrath of Heaven 

defied. 



The sun shone bright o'er Nineveh, and every marble street 

Was filled with morning greetings, and Tvith fall of hurry- 
ing feet ; 

Aloft the sounding voices swelled tkrough all the slum- 
brous air. 

From mart of many traders, and from Nisroch's fane of 
prayer. 

But, as pale Nature holds her breath beneath the thunder- 
cloud, 

By spell of sudden silence was that voiceful city bowed ; 

And through the ghostly stillness, like a knell, uprose the 
tone, 

" Yet forty days, and Nineveh is " humbled or " o'er- 
thrown." 




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"With eyes that shone with secrets, and with haggard 
looks and wan. 

From street to street the Prophet passed — a lonely, bur- 
dened man ; 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 



39 



He passed, and spoke, and vanished, as some specter of 

the night, 
Which lifts one dooming finger, and then mocks the strain- 



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But to the city's heart that word leaped like a forked 
■flame. 

And smote each chord, which, trembling, broke in peniten- 
tial shame ; 

And on and on, from hut to throne, the tide of sorrow 
swept. 

Till, \di\\ a wail which reached to God, that mighty city 
wept. 



TMs^ eager as the flowers are to wooing suns to yield ! 
That^ hard as is the triple mail or boss of brazen shield ! 
And, in the white light of the throne, before which Ijoth 

shall stand. 
Which will the judgment-angel choose to wear the guiltier 

brand ? 



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^ O thou, on whom the Gospel light now sitteth like a 

'^1'^ crown, 

A* Take heed lest thou by meaner lips art humbled and cast 

-hj down ! 

^J, Be still, my heart ! and reverent, as the warning tale is 

■JL The clay into God's kingdom jDresses oft before the sold. 

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SAB BAT U CHIMES. 



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VI. 

He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they 

awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we 

perish?— Mark iv, 88. 
When even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he 

alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the 

wind was contrary unto them. — Mark vi, 47, 48. 

"v/f^?^" 'EK Gennesaret, mountain-bordered, 
M V'W Beats the storm, and swells the gale, 
/" vXiS' While the bark, divinely ordered. 



^ Spreads for shore the laboring sail. 
Faster falls the cloud-heart's raining ; 

Lightnings leap from thunder-caves ; 
Through the dead'ning midnight straining. 

Wild eyes shine across the waves. 



O how oft men weary, gazing 

For some radiant help from far. 
While above them, downward blazing. 

Gleams some bright and friendly star 1 
In their billowy danger sharing 

Lay their Lord, in human sleep 
Calm as childhood's — while unsparing 

Surged and strove the furious deep. 



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SADBATU CHIMES. 

From liis gentlest slumber j^arted, 

Glance of that awaking eye 
Soothes the lone and fretful-hearted, 

Bids their fear in faith to die. 
What to Him the wild commotion ? 

Vassals to his sov'reign will, 
Fiercest wind or angriest ocean 

Instant at his word are still. 



O'er Genncsaret, wildlj^ blowng, 

Chafe the sullen wmds again. 
While the voyagers " toil in rowing," 

With a dull impatient pain. 
Deeper looms the dark before them, 

Wearier grows each slack'ning hand. 
No loved presence bending o'er them ; 

Hopeless night and distant land. 



Louder roars the surge's clangor. 

Which the trouliled moon shines o'er ; 
And the surf-waves, white with anger. 

Dash in battle on the shore : 
But the Lord, his own beholding. 

Watches o'er their roused alarms. 
As some mother watches, folding 

Frightened nurslings in her arms. 

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42 BABBATn CHIMES. 

Wearily the night-watcli wcaretli, 

Weareth, sick'ning and foriorn, 
Yet the promised help forbeareth ; 

Hush of blast, or glimpse of morn. 
Then the waiting Saviour maketh 

O'er the storm his path of peace ; 
From the wave the frenzy breaketh ; 

In the heart the discords cease. 




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On our souls be deeply graven 

Lessons by these tempests taught : 
Willeth Christ to lift the craven 

Into realms of braver thought. 
When with him we sojourn longer, 

And the heart has stronger grown ; 
Rageth then the storm-cloud stronger. 

And we brave the blast alone. 

While untried we strive and wrestle 

In our yet unripened strength, 
Christ will slumber in the vessel, 

And T\all speak the calm at length. 
Through the wilder tempest scathless, 

While we bravely breast the wave, 
Still we hear him, " Be not faithless, 

I am watching, I will save." 



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But let him ask in ftiith, nothing wavering. — James i, 6. 



^^^^^HE restful look which angels wear ; 
The glance of an untroubled eye, 
"Whose quick, clear gaze still seeks the sky 
^ A mouth half parted, as for prayer ; 



All sunshine on the upward face ; 

All meekness in the folded palms ; 

As some fair girl, who asketh alms 
For her blmd lather in his place : 




i 






Yes ! this is Faith, a patient guest. 
Content to wait till fuller time ; 
And nourishing a trust sulilime 

That she shall grasp the heavenliest. 

The bliss of those who " have not seen ; " 
"Wlio, through the months of dark decay, 
Can realize the bright-haii-ed May 

Twining her coronets of green. 






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§44- SABBATH CHIMES. 

^ The bliss of those, who, all the night, 

„|,, "With cressets burning in the crypt, 

■^ Have seen the ruljy morning, dipt 

11 And bathed in glory, greet the sight. 



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Yes ! this is Faith. It dares not doubt 
The honor of the Father's Name ; 
For though the world may fill with blame, 

The child goes jDroudly in and out. 

Within itself its evidence 

Has mastered fear and captured thought ; 

And all things seem as if o'erwrought 
By pressure of celestial sense. 

Of old, the venturous Genoese 

Stood in a great thought calm and stem 
'Mid rebel crew, his prow to turn 

Through the vast reach of westward seas. 



Careless, though the vexed waters swirled, 
Like hate and envy's meaner things ; 
Until the land-bird's timid wings 
Brought welcomes of a newer world. 



1 



"With visions of unuttered good. 

How drooped the dazzled eyelids dim, 
"What time before the Sanhedrim 

Erect the earliest martyr stood ! 






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f SABBATH CHIMES. J/-5 

.■'z Then in the teeth of foes he spake ; '^% 

"''I*- As tliose who see the opened gate, 

% Nor blench to meet the deadliest fate, 

^k. I'l Jesus' strength, for Jesus' sake. 

A Yes ! this is Faith ; which dares rely \ 

,|f Though all is hostile circumstance ; J 

,ji^ Only concerned to catch the glance ¥ 

C Of one all-seeing, loving Eye : '^'" 

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'jT That Eye on which her own is bent, "4': 

% Whose looks, whene'er they downward strike, ^ 

''f- Can make ours to their pureness like X 

'4 While gazing, filled with that intent. 4 

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|. And Christ \\'ill all the souls exalt J- 

^1. Of those who cleave to him alone, j' 

,i Till, in the glory of the throne, J*' 

^\ They are presented " without fault " 

P T-ord ! put this Faith within my heart, 

X That I may so familiar be 

I': Thy light will not be strange to me 

^f|^ When I shall see thee " as thou art." 

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We are saved by hope; but bope that is seen Is not hope; for what a 
man seeth. why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we 
see not, then do we with patience wait for it. — Romans viii, 24, 25. 

//^^^(^ WHO cau tell of the sower's cares 
IMgiL^ As he wanders forth alone ? 
"•^^T^ While the shrill wuid whistles in A\dntry airs 
^^-^* To the answering surge's moan. 

No sunny gleam in the leaden day, 

No blithe companions around, 
Silent he scatters the seed away 

In the cold, imcertain ground. 

Wearily, wearily forth he jolods 

With life for the yielding loam ; 
Who can say if ever, above the clods, 

He shall hear the harvest home ? 



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Shall the long, dark months which intervene 
The work of the seed-time spoil ? 

Or the locust amiy blight the green 
"Wlien it peeps above the soil ? 



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Shall seed, long wooed by the jealous rain, 

Into wanton fullness sprout ? 
Or the mad wmd scatter the bearded grain, 

In its boisterous glee, about ? 

O who can tell of the sower's cares. 

As he wanders lone and mute. 
And lightens his labors ■wdth many jjraycrs 

For the generous gift of fruit ? 

For some may fall where travelers tread, 

And the wild birds round it flock ; 
And some where the ftuTow is sj^arsely s^jread 

O'er a scarp of stubborn rock ; 

And some amid ranker thorns, which hide 

The sun from the seed he leaves ; 
It were strange if ever the country-side 

Should wave with the whitening sheaves. 

Though clouds may gather, and winds may sigh, 

And scofibrs deride his deed, 
Yet ever from sunrise hastening by 

The sower soweth the seed. 

O, brave and bold is the sower's heart, 

With his darkling fears to cope, 
For the dull, gray future is spanned athwart 

By the iris-arch of Hope. 






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4-S S A BBATII CHIME S. 

And this heaveuly word liath made him strong, 

" The harvest sliall never cease :" 
And he scattereth still to that inward song, 

For duty fulfilled hath peace. 

'Twere pleasanter work, A\dth the flower-crowned. 
And the harvest laugh of friends ; 

But the God who blesses the fruitful ground. 
The bliss of the seed-time sends. 

And though lonely toil on earth is sad, 
'Mid the frown of wintry weather, 

The sowers and reapers — where all is glad — 
Shall rejoice for aye together. 






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The greatest of these is charity. — 1 Corinthians xiii, 13. 



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OOM for the last and largest grace 
The Clmrch below can e'er express; 
^ "?! Which stamjis on eai-thly hearts and base 
jfeifi^ The image of Heaven's loveliness ! 
Ordained the ( hiefest bliss to prove, 
Likeness to God — for " God is Love !" 



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An honest eye, a lirow so frank. 

It ne'er can home a thought of guile ; 

The patent of a heavenly rank ; 
The signet of a heavenly smile ; 

What base-born craft can simulate 

Credentials of such kingly state ? 



I 






Forgiving, though she suffers long. 
From low susi)icion n()l)ly free, 

In t^xith sublime, in patience strong, 
Eager from her own praise to flee. 

" An angel, sure," men wond'ring say, 

"Hath lighted upon earth to-day." 



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As, by the sluggard eyes unseen, 
The dew her choicest balm distills ; 

As o'er the silent mountains green 

The summer spreads her wealth of rills ; 

So Love her dews and rills lets fall : 

Concealed herself — she blesses all. 



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"Without her, vain the boastful noise 
Of chariots' whirl and trumpets' l^lare : 

Labor hath but distemiDcred joys, 

And darkness rests on cross and care ; 

And Zeal's wild lightnings cleave the gloom. 

Lurid as torches in a tomb. 



For men are thankless all, and prone 
To think white raiment hides a scar ; 

And Doubt's complaining under-tone 

Is heard through Faith's high hymns afar ; 

And selfish murmurs, loud and rude, 

O'erpower the chant of Gratitude. 



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But where Love is the vail will lift ; 

As some belated traveler sees, 
Clear through the shaggy tempest's rift, 

Light of the steadfast Pleiades ; 
And, grooving trustful at the sight. 
Thinks of the heaven beyond the night. 



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S AH BATH CHIMES. 

If Love the faith and life inform, 
Men rise above their dark distrust, 

As the bright wings — erewhile the worm- 
Leave in disdain their former dust. 

When keen eyes pierce all falsehoods througl , 

Love bears the glance, for Love is true. 



57 






Love is the talisman which quells 
The stormiest surge of mortal strife ; 

And when we die, and dies all else 
Of goodlmess or charm in life. 

To fairer worlds translated high 

Love passes the death-angel by. 






Faith cannot scale the jasper walls; 

She bows and dies before the gate ; 
And Hope in mortal faintness falls, 

With blest fruition satiate : 
But Love aliides — the lasting grace — 
For Love is native to the place. 






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But how shall souls defiled as oui's 
E'er harbor such celestial guest ? 

She dwells with consecrated j)owers — 
The pure intent, the blameless breast; 

Or hides in lowliest nooks away. 

Like cereus-buds, which shrmk from day. 



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52 SABBATH CHIMES. 

" Nearer to Christ " we must retreat ; 

The bliss to loved disciples known : 
And while his quiet pulses beat 

Must learn to regulate our own ; 
Until we all Ms mind receive, 
And learn of Love in love to live. 



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Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his 
soul ? ... Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands 
of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed 
go free. — Isaiaii Iviii, 5, 6. 

Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head. — Matthew vi, 17. 



SHERE'S winter on the hills to-day. 
^ iSic¥^ 'p]jg sad wind soughs o'er churchyard knolls, 
^^!^And weary nature seems to say, 



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'Tis Lenten-tide for sinful souls." 



The barlj is in our heart to-day ; 

Sore crushed with sense of ail and sin, 
We feebly strive and faintly pray, 

'Gainst danger near, for grace within. 

"We mourn our pride and passion's stain, 
The earthly in our hearts enshrined ; 

The rebel flesh, too oft in vain 
Commanded by the nobler mind; 

And all of human curse or care 

"Which lurk life's dangerous paths among, 
To quench the altar-flame of prayer, 

Or hush the heavenward strain of song. 



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Hence ! selfish trust and sordid aims ! 

No longer on our memories crowd ! 
Our lieart its inner last pi'oclaims, 

And " fears to enter in the cloud." 



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Bold in the sight of men we tread. 

Who wore for us the crown of thorn 
He bade us to " anoint the head ; " 

The Christian fast is manly borne. 

Sad with the smart of contrite pain, 

We keej) apart our vigils lone, 
And inly weep, like her of Nain, 

The tears which melt the heart from stone. 

We wail not the remorseful cry 

Once wrung from hopeless traitor's breast • 
The otfended Saviour passeth by 

As erst, to breathe not wrath, but rest. 



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Calmly floats on the guarded ark, 
Though fiercely the proud waters roll ; 

Exults and sings, above the dark. 
The bird with morning in his soul. 

It were not meet His love to spurn ; 

While humbled, we ourselves abase ; 
For contrite hearts the shadows turn 

To loving smiles ujoon his face. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

The Bridegroom of the Church liath still 
His royal feast before her spread ; 

And while he lingers, nothing will 

The " children of his chaml)cr " dread. 



55 



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Chastened by him, before his feet 

We cast our sloth, and shame, and pride ; 

His strength invoke, his love entreat. 
Who saith, " I will not always chide." 

Then ready or for work or war. 

We keep the fast which he doth choose ; 
And in his service valiant are, 

" The bands of wickedness to loose." 

Thus, from our Lent, his grace shall make 
An easier road from earth to heaven ; 

And, pardoned for the Saviour's sake, 
" We love, for we have much forgiven." 



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II. 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the 

devil. — Matthew iv, 1. 
For we have not a hi^h priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of om- 

infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.— 

Hebrews iv, 15. 
For in that lie himself hath sufi'ercd being tempted, he is able to succour them 

that are tempted.— Hebrews ii, 18. 

^^lERCELY on Salem's towers and liUls 
The hot sun striketh down ; 
The feverish pulse of summer thrills 
The desert bare and brown ; 
As, Spirit-guided, through the languid air, 
Moves one sad form apart for lasting, strife, and prayer. 

Nature hath no foreboding voice ; 

No battle trumpets blow ; 
The heedless sons of men rejoice ; 
The mornings come and go ; 
But in that desert deadlier conflict nears 
Than where the chariots roll, or glance the glittering spears. 

The lists are spread. In solemn tryst, 

In God's eternal plan, 
'Tis here the Satan tempts the Christ, 
As once he tempted man. 
And shall he triumph, as on Eden's field ? 
Will here the mightier Adam cast away his shield ? 



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Wliy gaze we -with such wishful ej'cs 

That keenest strife uj^on ? 
"Why sing we, Avhen, to nether skies, 
The baffled fiend has gone ? 
For us the fight is won, tlie victory A\Tought, 
Whose issues stretch beyond the loftiest reach of thought 1 



/ 



Our hearts, forlorn and troubled, need 

A tender priest and true, 
Mighty with God to intercede, 
/ But kind and human too ; 

And Christ, in this his desert hoiu", reveals 
The arm of conq'ring strength, the heart which wannly feels. 



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Vainly he tells of woiuid or scar 

Wlio ne'er took sword in hand ; 
Idly he speaks of ocean's war 
Who sees it fi'om the strand. 
The " visage marred " begets the sei]^e of pain ; 
Our own tears give the power all other tears t' explain. 



So, Jesus ! in this school of scorn. 
Though thou wert Son Di\'ine, 
The whispered sin, the troubling thorn, 
The thought of shame were thine. 
" Tempted in all points." Be thy name adored 
For this true humanness — om* Brother, Saviour, Lord ! 



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Loving and faithful ! we require 

Nothing apart from thee ; 
Anointed by this clrrisni of fire 
Our true High Priest we see ; 
And boldly ventiu-e through life's wildering maze, 
Brave because thou, O Chiist, didst tread the self-same way 




When joerils round us threat'ning hang, 

Or arduous duties press. 
And yielding flesh would 'scape the pang, 
Or make the trouble less. 
By coward means, we think of Him who bore. 
And spm-ned the unhallowed thought in ages long before. 



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Wlien oft the harassed soul ai'ound 

Presumption spreads her snares, 
And ca^jtive leads the spirit, bound 
"With chain of needless cares ; 
" Thou shalt not tempt the Lord " — this word of power 
Our souls shall weapon through the dark, deceitful hour. 



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And when the Temjjter, bolder grown, 

Suggests the atheist lie, 
And bids us, at his Moloch-thi'one, 
To pay our homage high, 
Humble, but daimtless, through our Lord's defense, 
We speak the words rebukmg — Satan, get thee hence ! 



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SABBATH CHIMES. §9 

Most grateful m the desert lone 

The rock its shadow flings ; 
Most gentle where the grass is mowTi 
The dew its coolness bring-s ; 
And, after struggle, to the wearied breast 
Earth hath no paradise so sweet as perfect rest. 

So when the demon-thoughts are fled, 

Angels come trooping dowTi 
To fan the brow, and lift the head. 
And bring the palm and crown ; 
We see the vision, hear the ai)proval given ; 
The Master smiles "Well done," and in that smile is 
heaven. 



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60 



SABBATn CniMES. 



Lent* 
III. 

And it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear, 
nor dark ; hut it shall be one day which shall be known unto the 
Lord, not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening 
time it shall be light. — Zechauiah xiv, 6, 7. 



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p^EERCE through the hind the invader sweeps, 
As sudden from the glacier-steeps, 
Tlie avahinche in fury leaps. 

Sad silence in her banquet-halls, 
Confusion on her leaguercd walls, 
Darkly the curse on Judah falls. 

Their fathers' graves the stranger owns, 
All plaintive are the minstrel tones, 
For " none take pleasure in her stones." 

On every heart there comes the blight 
Of wish, almost of hope. No sight 
Of sun or star — dim, troubled light. 

"Not clear, nor dark," the Lord hath said, 
A gleam through angry clouds o'erhead, 
A dull gray morning, flecked vni\\ red. 

Who knows not this ? To us 'tis given 

Into this desert to be diiven. 

Faint hope on earth, famt glimpse of heaven. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

No trust, no power to see the best, 
Dark fears too vague to be ex2)ressed, 
A feverish gaspmg after rest. 



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Not hopeless " dark," but O ! " not clear," 
How oft the fitful lights appear 
Which burn for mortal cjuiclance here ! 



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Then from the depths we cry afar 
If haply some kind Bethlehem-star 
Will lead us where our mercies are ; 

And the Lord's presence brings its balm. 

As on the ancient lake a calm. 

We hush the sob, we raise the psalm. 

" Known to the Lord:" this gospel will 
All our unrestful miu'murs still. 
Our hearts with patient gladness fill. 

If he, our Savioar, knows om- pain. 
Each wearying hour, each sad refrain. 
Shall end in joy, as clouds in rain. 

And if the shadows denser frown. 
And clasj) us like an ebon crown — ■ 
They break before the sun goes down. 

" At even, light," the promise runs- 
Bright as with pomp of many suns, 
Whispered to God's beloved ones. 



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6S 



SABBATH CHIMES. 



As lightning from the tempest torn, 

So, ere the night a ne^ver morn 

Is from the ffatherins; darkness born. 



Bm'sts ui3on even-tide the day, 
The shadows are dispersed for aye. 
The crimson glows above the gray. 

Ne'er is that westermg splendor jjast ; 
To heaven's own noon it broadens fast, 
And while God liveth it shall last. 



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SABBATH CHTJfES. 



I ■ . • 

^ Lent. 




IV. 

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the 
bush is not burned. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to 
sec, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush. — Exodus iii, 3, 4. 



cg^REAT are thy works, O God ! and sought 
W Of those who fix their kindling thought 



,X 1(^^^ ^^ ^^^y all-wise designs ; 



l| ■^^S^^, Deeper the rev'rent wonder grows, 

'^ Deeper the sense of sweet repose, 

As, in thy ways, thy tireless goodness shines. 



Happy the men who, while the tide 



.:^. Of lile flows on, can " turn aside " 

I. 



Thy purpose to discern ! 
So, timely-curious, Moses came 
.)jL To gaze upon the fi'onds of flame — 

I? The bush, whose red leaves flourish while they burn. 

■A 

|,' The brooklet murmured in its bed, 

'^ The flocks in patient silence fed, 

r As o'er the jjlain he trod ; 

Startled to watch the unwonted fire. 



Nor guessing, as it leaped the higher. 
That in its midst was shrined the hidden God. 



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€.■4- SABBATH CHIVIES. 

This morn like other moms had seemed ; 
Of naught the musing Shejjherd dreamed 

Beyond the common round ; 
When bursts upon his dazzled eyes 
Of that " great sight " the quick surprise, 
And the Voice bade him rev'rence '' holy ground." 



\ 'Tis often thus. Life's duteous deeds 

■ Are steps by which " the angel " leads 

To " greater things than these :" 
As Simon from Tiberias' breast 
Was summoned l)y his Lord's behest 
Of the new Gospel-realm to hold the keys. 



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O, not from far — j^eneath — above 
We vainly quest incarnate Love ; 
God all around we see ; 
Though banished into dreariest wild,- 
The Father talkcth with the Child— 
His holy j)lace the one lone desert tree. 



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The stammered Avord, the slender praise. 
The poor, the young, the friendless raise,- 

The homage, long delayed. 
He will not e'er reject with scorn, — 
He, who of old the wilding thorn 
In Midian's waste His bright pavilion made. 




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Wliat angel word, what mystic sign 
Revealed the hidden Guest divine, 

By earth and heaven adored, 
We know not ; but a look, a tone, 
A blessing, made the Godhead known : 
Christ spake but " Mary," and she knew the Lord. 






The light is bom out of the dark ; 
Then let us humbly wait and hark 

For whisper or for word : 
The grandest message of God's Ups, 
His most sublime apocalypse, 
Oft from the fiercest heart of flame is heard. 



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Not ours to grieve, not ours to choose 
The way in which the heavenly news 
Our sjjirits shall inspire ! 
Welcome or pain, or awe, or fear. 
If but our honored souls may hear 
Thy voice, Lord ! though thou shalt speak " by fire." 



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SABBATH CHI ME S. 



Lent* 



V. 



The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. Now is 
my soul troubled: and what shall I say? Father, save me from this 
hour? but for this cause came I unto this hoiu-. Father, glorify thy 
name. — John xii, '23-28. 



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jjji^jiHE hour is come ! 'tis thus He wakes 

His followers from their feverish dream ; 
9/^ And his high ijuqiose to redeem, 
Forth on the startled silence breaks. 

Who can the loving mystery read ? 

Glory and death ! O wedlock strange ! 

Can anguish thus to honor change ? 
Do martyrs triumph while they bleed ? 



I 



Doth joy, the truant, lurk in pain ? 

Is life concealed in bitter cup ? 

How can fair visions kindle up 
From panting heart and bm-dened brain ? 

Gaze the disciples on their Lord. 

No wonder that their asking eyes, 

Which court, the while they di-ead, rejjlies, 

Should lonsr for some assuring word. 



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SABBATn CRIJfES. 

But denser darkness settles do^\7i. 
The human fear, the human will, 
New agonies impending still — 

The mysteiy of the Father's frown. 



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Dark earth, blue heaven all clouded o'er, 
The strange and lonely strife with sin — 
O, ne'er was kingdom ushered in 

By heralds sad as these before ! 

The highest glory is not where, 
'Mid crimson clouds, the tight is won ; 
'Tis to reclaim the erring son, 

Long used the sinful yoke to bear. 

Better to clothe with com the -^-ild 
ThaJi track the fire-path of a star ; 
Less the proud sons of science are 

Than clown who saves a di'0A\iiing child. 

Tlirough death the world is raised above 
Its alien curse and kindi'ed dust ; 
We on the cross read, "God is just," 

But in the ofieiijig, " God is love." 

Tlie wheaten com which falls and dies. 
In autumn's plenty richly waves ; 
&o, from the loathsome i^lace of graves, 

With Christ, our elder, we may rise. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

From death comes life. The hand of God 
This direst curse to good transforms ; 
So purest air is bom of storms ; 
So bursts the harvest from the clod. 



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The highest benedictions hide 
Where sacrifice is pure and true ; 
And our poor self-denials, too, 

If done for Christ, in him abide. 



But hark ! the trouble breaks in prayer. 
As billows on the patient beach ! 
O tell us, Jesus, how to reach 

The marvel and the comfort there ! 



i 



Some brave ones, who thy name confessed. 
Have tossed away their lives in sjiort, 
And gone to death, as kings to court, 

And hailed him with wild words of jest. 



But we this high excitement lack, 

And shrink from pain, and droop in loss. 
And only want to bear the cross. 

When Thou hast placed it on the back. 



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And Thou our pattern art, not they ; 

And thou hast wept : then we may grieve 
Some joy to lose, some friend to leave, 

Into the darkness gone away. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

Wlien all life's light is in ecliijse, 

" O, if thou canst, my Father, spare ! " 
These accents of thy garden-prayer 

Will quiver from imploring lips. 



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But if the cup from which we shrink 
Thou dost forbid to jDass away. 
Then help us from the heart to say, 

•' My Father wills it, I must chink." 

Braver to feel " Thy will be done," 
Because we first had cried aloud : 
We see the rainbow in the cloud. 

We know beyond it shines the sun. 



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Very early in the morning they came to the sepulchre. . . . Why seek 
ye the living among the dead? lie is not here, but is risen. — Lukb 
xxiv, 1, 5, 6. 

c^^^^J^J^IS early morn. " Come, cross the brook, 
<Cj m^ The Kech'on lie so lately crossed, 
^'^w3 In hoi^e — 'tis all we can — to look 

^^ Once more upon the ' Loved and Lost.' 



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" These smiling flowers, by spring arrayed, 
The winter of our grief renew ; 

For in the tomb, where Christ is laid, 
Our faith, alas ! is buried too. 



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" ' We trusted,' — 'twas a pleasant ch-eam, 
By rudest waking overthrown,— 

• That He our Israel would redeem,' 
And, peerless, reign on Salem's tlu'one. 

" That hojDe is gone ; but memory cleaves 

In blissful trance to Jesus yet, 
And through her tears still sits and weaves 

The past into one long regret. 







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SABBATH CHIMES. 

" Come where tliose funeral olives wave, — 
The city sleeps, the mom is fair ; — 

Love yearns to see the garden-grave — 
Come, let us weep and worship there." 

Tlius, as their mighty sorrow spoke. 
Forth the true-hearted women went : 

Then the unhoped-ibr morning broke 
Upon their night of discontent. 

Not always bending o'er the una 

Of missed and mom-ned ones should we lie ; 
When sorrow doth to duty turn. 

Strong consolation waiteth by. 



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ill 
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Grieving for Christ all griefs above, 
Wlio by the grave stand, meek and dumi), 

With troubled faith, but constant love. 
To them the visioued angels come. 

Hark ! how the sounds their hearts revive ! 

" Not here, but risen," as he said ; 
" The Lord ye love is yet alive — 

Wliy seek the living 'mong the dead ? " 



Glad news ! and not alone for those 
Who gathered round that sacred place ; 

Like some rich river's song it flows ; 
A gospel for a ruined race. 






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S A BBA TH CHIMES. 



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O, oft from out tlie darkest mine 
A costlier gem the toiler bears ; 

O, oft the heavenliest hope can shine, 
Struck from the heart of old despairs. 






Jesus is risen ! Silent now, 

Not frantic, are the tears we weep 

O'er glazing eye, and marble brow. 
And dear ones in the dreamless sleep. 

Jesus is risen ! The fight is o'er ; 

Death to his own destruction hurled ; 
Man from the heaven is barred no more ; 

Easter hath dawned upon the world. 



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<b I BBA TTI CHIMES. 



73 



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Ka$t6i\ 



II. 

They returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the 
Sabbath day, accirdinir to the commandment.- — Luke xxiii, 50. 

^"''^'-WIIEEEFORE should those hands of love 
I ,^^ yf Their fragrant work forbear ? 
'^%^r^ Such task as theirs will mount above, 
^-l^z Like incense of a prayer; 
If they should fixlter or suspend 
'Twere treason to that matchless Friend, 
Wlio, loving, " loved them to the end." 



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Nay, do not those true hearts the wrong 

Their affluent love to doubt ; 
The heart-fires which have burned so long 

Have not at once gone out ; 
Love born of Love forever will 
The life with generous pulses fill. 
Surviving scorn, and shame, and ill. 

" They rested," as did He, when fii-st, 

Obedient to his hand. 
The light on formless darkness burst. 

And at his high comaiand 
Celestial beauty clothed the wild. 
And stars in ordered courses smiled 
On earth — God's work ; and man — his child. 
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7Jl. SABBATH CHIME S. 



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" They rested," — 'twas a higher I iw /^«- 

Which bade them thus dehiy, W 

And moved their ling'ring feet to draw ^. 

From that new tomb away ; f^^ 

God spake the broad command before,— jl 

" Duty than sacrifice is more ; ^ 

Better to serve than to deplore." '% 

"Spices and ointments," — piiceless these fjA., 

Poor symbols of regard ; ,^ 

And He who reads the human sees, M 

Nor fails he to reward ; l| 

But love hath struck its deepest chord, V 

When, rather than emljalm the Lord, % 

" They rested," to obey his word. 

" They rested," thoughtless of the meed 

The first day's morn would bring ; 
Nor dreamed that from such painful see I 

Such harvest e'er could spring ; 
When lo ! upon their doubting eyes 
Forth flashed the Easter's rare surprise, — 
" Jesus is risen — ye shall rise." 

" They rested." God's will is the best, 

And resurrection nears. 
When quiet trust in mourning breast 

Can take the place of tears ; 
They in whose hearts proud waters toss, 
The Marys, pierced with keenest loss, 
Must not lie weeping 'neath the cross. 






'S_j^,'i>?S 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

And we, who in this hiter time 
Theii" grief and promise heir, 
May for like exercise sublime 

Om* counseled souls prepare ; 
Eager to work, but calm to wait, 
Till at hot noon, or sunset late, 
The pale horse standcth at the gate. 



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8 A BBA Til an I ME S. 





III. 



There came also Nlcodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by ni^ht, 
and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds 
weight. — John xix, 39. 

''^^, S s-mftly flies the startled clove 

Wlien some keen danger swoops above, 
S'in^ And shelters 'neath the fiiendly eaves, 
Careless of all the joy she leaves ; 
By new and sore disquiet pressed, 
So comes to Christ a noble guest, 
PeqDlexed 'twixt earnestness and fear, 
Half longing — half afraid — to hear. 



He comes by night. Not his to brook 
The with'ring of the scorner's look. 
The cynic banter, gay and loud, 
The wonder of the gibing crowd. 
The burst of tierce or haughty spleen, 
Which fain would crush the Nazarene ; 
Not daring yet these storms to meet. 
He comes at night with stealthy feet. 

Blame ye the ruler that he shrank 
From tainted name and forfeit rank ? 
Think ye that such strong need of soul 
Should spurn the sense's base control. 



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SABBATH CHI2IES. 

And beivr the \ictor-spirit through, 
With manful haste, to dare and do, 
Accoimtmg all the world but loss, 
To find the truth, and clasp the cross ? 

Ah ! think how faintly you have borne ; 
How oft your plighted troth forsworn ; 
How, when the flick'ring slanders fell, 
You whisj)ered your unkuid forewell ; 
How you forsook, denied, betrayed ; 
Foul traitor to the vows you made — 
And while these wraiths before you stand, 
Pause ere you fix the coward's brand. 

The shadows tall of that di'ead hour, 
" Of darkness " the supremest " power," 
When in red clouds the sun has died, 
And Nature owns the Crucified : 
Where are the bold disciples fled ? 
Why haste they not to claim their dead ? 
For while they nurse their grief and gloom. 
The cowards lay him in the tomb. 

There is a courage braver far 
Than charges in the ranks of war, 
Or leaps to hear the cannon's boom, 
Or speeds with patriot pride to doom, 
A hardy frame of well-knit nerves 
The soldier's purpose amply serves, 
And sjDeeds the thinning phalanx on 
When banners trail, and hoj^e is gone. 



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SABBATH CHIMES, 

But warriors oft have backward turned 
When folly laughed, or jjassion burned ; 
Scared from the right by witling's blame, 
Have let small sneers their manhood shame. 
So on Gilboa's rainless field 
The monarch " casts away his shield." 
So Samson, when his lusts invite. 
Turns craven in the moral tight. 

Let God inspire ! then weak are strong, 
And cowards chant the battle-song ; 
He, whose apjiroach the darkness hides, 
Stands fast when all the world derides ; 
'Mid fiercest fires the generous youth 
Is valiant for the living truth ; 
And, mai'tyred for the Saviour's sake. 
Heroic woman clasps the stake. 

We thank thee, Lord ! when thou hast need 

The man aye ripens for the deed ; 

And thou canst make the timid bold 

To shed his fears as dross from gold ; 

And, nerved from heaven, nor droop nor quail, 

Though worlds confront, and hell assail. 

O breathe, in this and every hour. 

On each, on me, this soul of power ! 



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$ IV. > 

HV Then said some of his disciples iimonj: themselves, What is this that he 1 

'Sk saith unto us. A little while, and ye shall not see mo: and again, a little A- 

^K, while, and ye shall see me : and, because I go to the Father ? They said _j, 

' I therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while ? we cannot tell what V 

'^^ he saith. — John xvi, 17, 18. -^t 

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t^ ^ M^W'i^i^^lAT is it that He saitli ? 

'■^~ ^W-^M' That lie, Avho our deep love so oft hath hidden 

1^ /^^^^ To cling and gather round him, must be hidden 

$^, -^K "^'^ From all but iaith ? 



That, through the hap^jy days, 
We shall lie no more tranced with wondrous story, 



Not to behold him, when 



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'Sk Nor see God's love and man's blend, like a glory, ^ 

^4^- Whene'er we gaze ? -T-ft 



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!■' We longed and hoped to see him sceptered rather : 

A ■si* 

A And only when he " goeth to the Father," J|_ 

I' See him ac^ain ? j!'' 

|; " A little while !" to gain -I'- 

.'"^ The knowledge to o'er-master life and sorrow, ,<? 

^v And then to languish in one hoj^eless morrow "^i: 

■^ Of length'ning ]iain ? -^ 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 



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A while ! and then the end ? 
One flash, and then the utter dark, forever ; 
How the poor heart-strhigs ache in the endeavor 
To comprehend ! 

We know not what he saith ! 
His words are riddles, true and tender mostly ; 
There runs a shudd'ring through them, like some ghostly 
Shadow of death. 

We too, ask, What is this ? 
When o'er some ruined hope we weep and wonder, 
Or when some spirit-summons bids us sunder 
From all our bliss. 

What ! called so soon to part 
With fortune's rapture, and with love's caressing, 
With all those dews of life which fall in blessing 
On the parched heart I 

Moan like the passing bells 
The wail of Aveary souls which linger, aching ; 
The hollow sound of all life's music, breaking 
In sad farewells. 

A while ! a little while ! 
Sigh of crushed hearts, in homes bereft and lonely, 
For one brief holiday of summer only 

Able to smile. 



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'if SABBATH CHIMES. 81 'I" 

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*|. O for the power to rest ! % 

A^ Till to each soul God whisjjers his revealing, m- 

■h. Calming, as rain on waves, each angered feeling, M 

\, " What is, is best." Jj 

Sense sobs o'er graves, and mourns J^ 

Each cypress-garland, twined for love's midoing ! I 

Faith — a i)right prophet — sees its youth renewing ^ 

Within the urns. T 



^!^ For though the loved ones died % 

%' In slow decay, or scathed by swifter lightning ; %: 

•$<■ 'Twas but that in a noon-tide, ever brightening, ^|~ 

^|, They might abide. 'f 

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^^ Faith always sees them now, /J" 

-L, Because they are within the Father's presence, ^^SL 

■S And endless vouth, of heaven the radiant essence, Jl' 

¥ Brightens each brow. jf 

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SABBATH CHIMES. 



Easier^ 

V. 

The time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but 1 
shall show you plainly of the Father. — John xvi, 25. 

"-A S travelers o'er some darksome waste 
i^\* Their blind and perilous jjrogress urge, 
l^^s^Q And fear to stay, and fear to haste, 
"i'K^hJ^ While mists hang o'er the mountain's verge ; 
And earth is wrapt in midnight sliroud. 
Or some feint streak of moonlight struggles through the 
cloud; 



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As cliildi-en, guessing day by day 

Life's many riddles, new and strange ; 
Before whom pass, as in a play, 
All motley characters of change ; 
Some, monstrous, filling with affright. 
Some waking each new power in credulous delight ; 






So, wildered traveler, wondering child. 

Each soul its way through life inquires, 
Now lost in moorland, now ])eguiled 
By passion's dancing meteor fires ; 
Longing itself to imderstand, 
And feeling, like the blind, for some near guiding hand. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. ^'3 

We strive, and profit not with strife ; 
Are weaiy Antli oiu* torturing Avoe; 
The passionate secret of all life 
We only guess, we long to know. 
More light ! O from what depths we cry, 
Let the white truth blaze on us ere we droop and die ! 



For now we blmdly fear and love, 

By partial knowledge lured astray. 
Nor deem those woodland boughs above, 

'Neath which w'e stroll through summer's day, 
In such a wanton fullness twine. 
They shut out fi'om our eyes the blue of heaven divine. 



Our nature does not bound our want ; 
And stunned by this peqDetual roar, 
Poor baffled ones ! we sob and j^ant. 
And sigh for some eternal shore ; 
Each heart chafes like a moaning sea ; 
And who shall still its storm ? our Father, who but thee ? 



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But from a hapjDy place shine out 

Rays of a large majestic hoi:)e. 
And a Christ's voice, rebuking doubt, 
Gives to our faith its widest scope : 
" No iwore in proverbs will I speak. 
But plainly show yom- hearts the Father whom ye seek." 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 



'Tis morning now ! the dark hath fled, 
Scared by the Venturous dawn away. 
More light ! see how the glorious red 
Breaks on the soul and brings the day ! 
" We follow on to know the Lord," 
And in heaven's endless noon shall find our rich reward. 









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VI. 

Te shall roceive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you, 
and ye shall be witnesses unto me. — Acts i, S. 

-^^S^i^'s^ ORD, wi]t tliou now the throne restore, 
And raisj our Israel from the dust ? 
^ !M 2i"ave words ! which seemed as if they Ijore 
•^ ^v Naught meaner than the patriot trust. 

But lie who knows how subtle stains, 
As breath on mli-rors, mar the mind, 

Unbraids each motive's tangled skeins, 
And shows the lust which lurks behind. 



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" Ye shall have power." The answer probes 

The longing of each heart in turn ; 
Knew he that 'neath those peasant-robes 
Desires for thrones were wont to burn ? 

" Ye shall have power ; " but not of kings, 
Or those w^ho march through blood to tiime' 

" Tiie power the dove-like Spirit brings 
To witness through the world my Name." 

O w^aking rude from pompous dream ! 

No loud acclaim, no judge's throne, 
No laurels, won amid the gleam 

Of serried ranks, tuid foes o'erthrown. 






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36 SABBATH CHIMES. 

Not these ! but triumphs nobler tar 

Than bards have sung, or wealth has pricetl : 

To bring, as Magi to the star. 

The vassal-world to bow to Christ ! 

The gift of power ! not surely poured 
The heart's imjierious pride to feed, 

Nor yet for selfish ends to hoard, 
As wealth inflames a miser's greed. 

For vaunt and avarice shear the hair, 
In which the Samson's valor lies. 

And force him, in his blind despair. 
To play the mime to heathen eyes. 



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Men may not rest, though sleep be sweet. 

With 'wild'ring dreams which mount to heaven ; 

For God hath need of tireless feet. 

Forth on the soul's strong purpose di-iven. 



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Life is too shoi-t for holy trance. 
While ruin round us works its woe ; 

On Tabor's crest the glory-glance 
But nerved for sterner strife below. 



Well might the angels court eclipse 
Of all heaven's brightness for a space, 

In barter for those Avitncss-lii^s 

Which bum with news of gospel-grace ! 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

Aud we are lieirs of work so high. 
So rounded ^vdth all thoughts of bliss, 

That minstrels of the ujjper sky 

Have learned no chant so sweet as this. 



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VII. 

Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, believe also in mo. 

— .loiiN xiv, 1. 
Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? 

— Luke xxiv, 38. 

/ 'J^^ LOSEU to Christ til e loved ones grew, 

M'v^^Jii The world seemed heaven when he was nigli ; 
i-^'^^ Their raptured life no future knew, 
''■^'\JjL Nor dreamed they one so loved could die ; 
And when he sijoke of parting, O ! the quail 
And stoop of the bruised heart, as stunned by mighty hail. 

Like the stern silence, dread as death, 

'Twixt lightning-flash and thunder-peal ; 
So sudden grief, which held the breath, 
But strung the boding sense to feel ; 
And on the giddy brain, like funeral knells, 
Beat heavy, all in one, a life-time of fiirewells. 

But on that silence, drear and l)hink. 

Fell looks of love and words of cheer; 
As tears of eve, on daisied bank. 
Fall in the childhood of the year ; 
"Let not your hearts be troubled : ye l)elieve 
In God, believe in me." Faith cannot hopeless giieve. 



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T SABBATH CRIMES. 39 ^ 

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^^ Again they met. The tragic hour 5*" 

A With life-long wound their hearts had scarred, Jl, 

|f But memoiy held — the orphan's dower — ■ -J^~ 

^ The likeness of the " visage marred." 'f 

% With doors shut on the world, in upper room, l" 

*- They si)oke, now of lost hope, now of forsaken tomb. ^' 

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I- They brooded in a wayward grief "-^c 

^iy^ Which wrestled mth a trembling love ; -"^". 

tiji. Vassals of OTant unbelief, -I,. 

nf Dark'ning their loftiest thoughts aljove ; j^-^ 

>?A Wlien on their sight a radiant Presence came, %. 

\ And a remembered voice seemed breathincc each one's name. . '.' 

\ J. 

r^ O strange that when our blessings come &' 

IP We scarce can pierce their vailed disguise ! "^^ 

^^ They stood affrighted all and dumb, ^% 

-h. As if joy smote their aching eyes .||i , 

5' With blindness ; till the words a calmness made, i.!- 

1 " 'Tis I — why are ve troubled ? why your thoughts afraid ? " '| 

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%■ Two soothing words ! The grave between. \' 

■ly- Who can withstand the appealing grace ! . -^ 

i\ It stilled the sorrow that had been "^s 



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By sight of that familiar face, 

AVliich, ere they yet had broken on the soul, 

Spoke to the waters proud — " But thus far shall ye roll." 

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90 SABBATn CHIMES. 

Before and after death alike, 

He bids us cease our trouble yet ; 
Nor sword can pierce, nor anguish strike 
The sealed on whom His is set. 
Teach us the lesson, Lord ! at once to flee. 
From trouble into faith — from wavermo; faith to thoo. 



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Go to, let us go down, and there confound their langruage. 

— Genesis xi, 7. 
We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works 

of God. — Acts ii, 11. 



*r TATELY on Shmar's ancient plain 
SSv Uprose a mighty thought in stone ; 
The thinkers scoffed in jDure disdain 
Of forces mightier than their own. 
Full many a moon had waxed and waned, 
Full many a brain and hand had striven, 
To pile a tower, -which, unrestrained 

By bound or bar, should smite the heaven. 



For Thought had bi'ooded calm and long, 

And grew of its own offspring proud; 
And Labor brought his sinews strong, 

And Art her childi'en— cimning-browed ; 
And deathless Will and deathless Pride 

Bade scorn the earth, and brave the sky, 
Till they, who all theii- peers outvied. 

Should now with their Creator vie. 






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SABBATH CHIMES. 

Then came the injured Godliead down, 

And cursed them wdth an alien speech ; 
And from the thunder of his frown 

Afar they wandered — each fi'om each. 
But in the curse a blessing lurked ; 

From baffled language nations grew ; 
And thus the wrath of Heaven hath worked 

The purpose of its mercy too. 

Years rolled away. Three empires vast 

Had queened and faded, one by one ; 
A fourth had reached its prime, and cast 

The purple of its setting sun ; 
"When, as a whirlwind fi-om the north 

Awes the bowed forest in its ire. 
Twelve chosen men came boldly forth. 

With hearts of faith and " tongues of fire." 

No haughty Cesars fi-om their thrones 

With cohort fierce and lictor's rod ; 
These have no weapons, save the tones 

Of voices strong with words of God. 
But to men's hearts those voices leap, 

And pierce through all their guarded lies, 
Till, like a world aroused from sleep, 

They feel the baptism of the skies. 

They come from far — from sunny shores, 
Which o'er the proud ^gean smile ; 

From regions where th' Orontes pours 
Through the rich plain for many a mile ; 



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>Ss But on each startled list'ncr runcr, -A 

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.^_ Impetuous trom the lips ot flame, i^- 

~i God's wonders in his native tongue. | 

<!•?: Thus Love can every doom reverse, '.sj* 

■?^ Restore the good long mourned as lost, '»fv- 

'S^ E'en as the ancient Babel's curse ^}i. 

*A;, Died at the breath of Pentecost. I, 

And teeming brain and lissom hand, -^ 

By breath of heavenly grace controlled, | 

I May work and win, at God's command, . t 

*p More than the builders dreamt of old. j 

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'5^ O for the lambent fire to fall, "Ji 

^^, To purge the vile, the weak to nerve ! -4 

,>!>' So when the clarion-voices call 'j.i 

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jl We shall be meet to build or serve. | 

I, Come, Holy Ghost ! with cleansing power, .\- 

Wlien thou from i)ride our hearts hast shriven, f 

|;' Then, blameless, we may rear the tower, J' 

.jr Whose topmost stone shall reach to heaven. "c 

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Through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father, 
Ephesians ii, IS. 

^rATHER ! from all things marred and base 
y In this, our darkling dwelling-place, 
We lift our eyes to seek thy face. 



We wait thy sovereign "ndll to learn, 

Our life tliy favor fain would earn, 

Our* hearts for thy sweet soothing yearn. 

For thee the bending nations groan ; 
So wild, so strong their wailing tone. 
No voice can hush them but thine own. 

For there is naught tliat satisfies 
In "refuges of" builded "lies;" 
The earth hath failed. Men ask the skies. 

The world is full of doubt and jar, 
Red-handed hate and wasteful war ; 
All mail hath dint ; all flesh hath scar. 



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And tlionght is rebel ; aud desire 
Alternate smolders and leaps higher, 
Like some half-dead volcano's fire. 

E'en as for rain the cedars pant, 
E'en as the harts the brooklets haunt; 
Men heave and throb with mighty want. 

We covet knowledge. Keen our guess 
When mysteries oft, or questions press ; 
Until we ache from weariness. 

We faint Avith thirst. We die unseen. 
All truth hath but the mirage been. 
False as the faljled Hipjiocrene. 



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The I'ival systems bend their brows. 
Eager their zealot i)rides to rouse. 
We know not where to pay our vows. 

Then from the search we recreant flee ; 

Still chafing like a hungry sea, 

That we may reach Thy throne and Thee. 



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But as the passionate currents flow. 
They 1)reak upon one strand of woe, 
Moanino; the unknowm God to know. 



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O Lord ! thou must thyself declare ! 
We may not climb on broken stair 

Of faultless creed or formal prayer. 
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SABBATH 0UI3fES. 

Encumbered with our earthly load, 
We cannot tread the star-strewn road, 
Which leads to thy divine abode. 

Show us Thyself! none else prevail. 
Earth's mightiest with the effort foil, 
And tremor shakes the seraph's vail. 

Drooping and furled each angel- wing ; 
The silenced elders cease to sing ; 
All heaven is hushed before the King. 

God only can of God proclaim, 
Without presumptuous guilt and blame, 
The glories of the hidden name. 

But Love hath sent the Son to bleed, 
And th' Eternal Spirit to plead ; 
God-furnished, for our creature need. 

No longer must the poorest pine. 
The gulf is bridged. The light divine 
Broods o'er the lowliest human shrine. 

The holiest is no longer pent 

From mortal view. The vail is rent. 

God comes to every pilgrim's tent. 

Father ! we bless thee thou hast bowed, 
For us, vnth thy rich grace endowed, 
The vailing heavens, and scattered cloud 



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SAD BATE CHI M E S. 

O Saviour dear ! we fain would tcU, 
In lip and life's liosanna-swell, 
Thy praises, blest Immanuel ! 

And, in coequal praise, repeat 
Our life-long worship at thy feet, 
Divine and gracious Paraclete ! 

One God in Persons three ! We pour 
111 heaven's full cup our meaner store, 
And silent in thy light adore. 



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J-^'^ SABBATH CHI3IES. 

Trmittj* 
II. 

Then said I, Woe is me ! for I am nndone ; because I am a man of 
unclean li[)S, and I dAvell in the midst of a peoi)le of unclean lips: for 
mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. — Isaiah vi, 5. 

' "^\Wf PON the temple's glittering floors 
A i)ure, imwontcd radiance pours ; 

On court and column do\^^l\vard rolled 
The gathering waves of glory break ; 
Till all things from their luster take 
Or hues of things divine, or shapes of heavenly mold. 



Prostrate, as if the blaze had drowned 
All other sense of sight or sound, 

The prophet lay in sudden swoon ; 
As Eastern travelers, when they press 
Through the vast, palmlcss wilderness, 
Faint 'neath the angry sun, or breath of fierce simoon. 



What fearful sacrilege hath pressed 
Upon that bowed, remorseful breast ? 

What nameless memory cleft the stroke ? 
While in the fretted arches' gleam 
Waved the bright wmgs of seraphim. 
And from celestial choirs the triple praises broke. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 101 

It is no sullen priest of Baal 

Who smites the breast and lifts the wail ; 

The holiest man, the boldest seer, 
Whose words the faithless people scathed. 
Whose lips in fire divine were bathed, 
God's child — God's prophet — lies in anguish here. 



"Woe ! woe is me ! unclean, undone ! 
O hide me from yon flaming sun ! 

For God hath burst upon my sight ; 
And in that vision stands confessed 
The vileness of my prided l)est ; 
As sunbeams show all faults within their line of li^ht. 






" Sin lurks in my distempered zeal, 
And mars the ofF'ring when I kneel 

Bending in lowliest orison ; 
I thought my prophet-lips were clean. 
But I the Lord of Hosts have seen, 
And blench and tremble in the pureness of the throne." 



1^ 



Not thus when new-born Adam roved 
In that fixir virgin Eden, groved 

In loveliest harmony of shade ; 

Then earthly could with, heavenly blend. 

And man could talk with God, as friend 

Looks into dear friend's face, nor knows to feel afraid. 






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102 



SABBATH CHIMES. 

Ah ! it is thus the ijrimal fall 
Hath visited and cursed us all. 

Our eyes for heavenly scenes are dim ; 
Aaid, 'wildered, as in mortal trance, 
We shiver at tli' Almighty's glance, 
And only through the cloud can bear to look on him. 



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In pure hearts tiiith is ever young ; 
'Tis from our sin our fear hath sprung, 

And nuxde unmeet \v\i\\ God t' aljide ; 
Sinless, with wishful look and long. 
We should greet God at even-song. 
Nor from divine approach m bowers of Eden hide. 



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And yet some blessed symbols wait 
With hope to cheer the desolate. 

The angel from the altar flies. 
Eager with touch of burning coal 
To heal and cleanse the leprous soul ; 
Type of that blood di\'ine which all salvation Ijuys. 



O, not in anger to consume ! 
Rather to teach, to bless, t' illume. 

The lambent glories downward shine. 
While, to dispel each ling'ring doubt. 
The fire atoning ne'er goes out. 
Symbol of sin confessed, and expiate' wrath divme. 



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SA BBA Tn CII IIIFS. 



103 



Crushed 'ueath the silence of rcl^uke, 
We see that flame, and upward look 

Withm each consecrated tane ; 
So we with scraph-lips may vie, 
And " Holy, holy, holy," cry, 
Till our poor psalm shall blend with loftier angel-strain. 



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III. 

How great is His poodness, and how givat is His beauty. 

— Zechaeiah ix, 1 7. 
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. — Psalm sxxiii, 5. 

^HERE are -who say the v.orld is drear, 

A baffling maze of sin and pains, 
Where mortals crouch in 'wiUrring fear, 
And death o'er everj' homestead reigns ; 




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A world where mj^riad voices scorn, 
And myriad cavils mock reply ; 

And myriad men, to trouble born, 
Exist to toil, and grieve, and die. 

But earth is not a j^lace of tombs, 

In sj)ite of all that cynics say, 
For God hath shed forth balms and Ijlooms 

To heal the jilague and scent the way. 

And tribute rich and ample hoard 
Bear witness to rebuke the Avrong ; 

And Nature vindicates her Lord 
In buoyant life and woodland song. 



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On tlic same soil the harvest waves, 
Into wliose heart the tempest wore ; 

Anil, while men bend by wintry graves, 
The i?\vift spnng- liastes to grass them o'er. 

So, v,an(lering on the solemn hills, 

Which look upon some boundless plain, 

Besprent with flowers, and gay with rills, 
Whicli laugh like things unused to jiain ; 

Or gazing on some landscape large, 

With glade, and stream, and silent tower, 

While from the far horizon's marge 

Swells the old sea's great sound of power ; 

A ]M'esenc(' seems to lurk in each ; 
. And, like a gospel pure and kind. 
Their silence, eloquent as speech, 
Ilath lessons to the listening mind, 

Of comfort, learned from cottage fires; 

Of jjeace, from Nature's dreamless rest; 
Of faith, from heaven-pointing spires; 

Of endless life, fifom ocean's breast ; 



107 



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Of sweet communion with the dead, — 
(The i^recious living loved not less. 

For they the golden streets who tread 
Watch not to envy, but to bless ;) — 



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SASBATIT CHIMES. 



Taught l)y the Avay the still earth leans, 
Half- wearied, on the clasping sky, 

Like some sly child, who, lingering, means 
To claim close favors by and l)y ; 

Of duty, taught by each fair thing, 
Which works its Maker's high desire. 

By streams whicli flow and birds wliich sing, 
And know not to re2)ine nor tire ; 

Of God — for all the landsca2)e fair, 
The a/AU-e heaven, the cloudlet dim. 

The ripening fields, the moorland i»arc', — 
All have a word to speak for Ilini. 

O for an inner ear, to hark 

Each whisper of this under-song ! 

O for brave will, to learn and mark, 
And grow for grief or serv-ice strong ! 




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IV. 




There is joy in the presence of the ansels of God over one sinner that 
repentoth. — Luke xv, 10. 

P^^IIERE are wcnild earth and heaven divorce, 

And sunder every tie 
3 Which binds our sj^here, in mystic force, 

To that far throne beyond the course 

Of orbs in yonder sky. 

And skeptics, wliite with angiy foam, 

Their scornful lips liave curled ; 
Deriding those who tain would roam 
To find, and till with hopes of home, 
This orphan of a world. 

Not thus the pitying angels lean 

From their calm seats altove; 
They watch with kindly eyes and keen. 
And long some struggling soul to screen 

In ministry of love. 

Heaven loves the ruined to redeem ; 

As nolilest hearts below 
Light up, with tenderest vigil-gleam. 
O'er those whose tiatt'rincr childhood's dream 



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S ABB A TIT CHIMES. 



For Love is full of love to all, 

Yet loves the weakest most : 
The one in peril, or in thrall, 
Wliose wine of life has turned to gall, 
Hath larger share engrossed. 

The shepherd will the flock forsake, 

Safe in the fold abiding, 
To wander through ravine and brake. 
Homeward the one stray lamb to take ; 

Nor break its heart with chiding. 

The sire in calm emotion dwells 

Where quiet home-lires burn ; 
But his deei3 love in floods upwells 
"When from deserted pleasure-cells 
The prodigals return. 

The stream in languid rij^ples flows 
In summers through the wood ; 
But if, l)y long stern winter froze, 
Released, in cataract haste it throws 
Its waves in living flood. 

And sorrow gives to fiiding things 

A memory always green ; 
As parting birds have brightest wings; 
As music over churchyards rings. 

And l)reaks o'er graves l)etween. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

O ! if in hearts forlorn as ours 

We keep the choicest gift, 
The sunniest smiles, the rarest flo-wers, 
Fi-om shadowed hearts and i)ainful hours 

Their shade and pain to lift : 

The angels, kinder ftir than we, 
Of heavenlier joy are heh-s. 
When from their thrones tiiey stoop to see 
Some brave ones Ijattling to be free 
From sinful curse and cares. 

The purest bliss the angels share 

Is o'er a world forgiven. 
O mystery beyond comj^are ! 
Earth's joy and sorrow vibrate there, 

And pity brightens heaven. 



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V. 

Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious agninst 
the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the 
grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good ; 
so Shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou slialt be feil. De- 
light thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires ot 
thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; tni.st also in him ; and 
he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness 
as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. — Psalm xxxvii, 1-d. 



?i.;HO would not learn a lore like this, 
By some sweet jisalmist taught ? 

xind rest in calm content of bliss, 
Without unquiet thought ? 



And yet our restless hearts, perplexed 

With secrets strange or fell. 
And oft with righteous anger vexed. 

Are eager to rebel. 

" Not fret," when men of prosperous wi'ong 

In gilded chariots ride ! 
When trampled weak and tyrant strong 

On every hand abide! 

When, now with rage, and now with Ijoast, 
The hot world cheats the way. 

And wreckers hoist, on iron coast. 
False lights to lure astray ! 



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SABBATH CHI3IES. US T 

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"When ijerjured lives, with wasteful jirayers, ■ - 

Their sordid aims can leaven, 
As one should turn to fiery glares 

God's rainbows out of heaven ! 



When wicked, in their power secure, 
God's justice seem t' arraign ! 

Were it not weakness to endure ? 
Dishonor to refrain ? 

Like songs in storms, the calm command 
Still sounds, " Fret not thy soul. 

Nor wrath nor envy understand 
The mystery of the Avhole." 

AVhy should the stately oak complain 
That grass hath earlier spring, 

When centuries yet of sim and rain 
Will hail the forest king ? 

For it will through long summers hide 
The woodland songsters blithe, 

When the frail grasses at its side 
Have fallen by the scythe. 



Wherefore all helpless angers curb, 
All murmuring envies still : 

" The wicked," like the blasted herb, 
" Shall wither" when He will. 
15 









I 



^4- SABBATH CHIMES. 

Large charity will lift thee soon 

To breathe diviner air, 
Where flowers, as of an endless June, 

The Beulah-gardens ))ear. 

Delight in God shall make thee spread 
Such influence through thy gloom, 

As when some hidden yiolets shed 
Their riches of perfume. 

" Commit thou all thy way to God," 
Then let the slanderers bark • 

He brings it forth, who flings abroad 
The noontide from the dark. 



The gem which decks some royal hand 

In darkness was impearled ; 
And thou canst wait, that thou may'st stand 

God's own before the world. 



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SABBAT U CHIMES. 



115 



I 









4 



4 



X 



Triuittj;, 




VI. 

We know all things work together for good to them that love God. 
— ItOiiANS vlii, 2S. 



'AITH speaks, wMle sense is dumb and sad, 
Of all life's strano'e confusions weary, 
*|Of Dreading, tliougli fireside eves are glad, 
V'v^jr^ Lest following morns break cold and dreary 
But Faith, with prescient vision blest, 
Faults shining morrows in the West. 



All nature longs to be assured ; 

Suspense is torture to the feeling; 
The deadliest ill can be endured 

If trouble be not jjast annealing ; 
And faith, like some alchemist old, 
Can turn base metals into gold. 



1 



I 



% 

A. 



And God hath said, " To loving souls 
All things for good shall work together." 

From heart to heart the promise rolls ; 
As song-birds, 'mid the scented heather. 

From nest to nest the strain jsrolong. 

Till au- is filled with balm and song. 



I 

i 






I 



'Tis He hath said it, from whose hand 

Comes all this bounteous world's provicUng ; 

Whose love in equal grace hath planned 
A kingdom's or a sparrow's guiding ; 

Who marks the proud sun when he sets, 

And feeds the orphan ravenlets. 



And He can do whate'er he wills, 
The worlds are all his vassal-forces ; 

Each vast domain his influence fills, 
He binds the stars in lambent courses. 

And when the stoi'm its wildest raves 

He speaks a silence on the waves. 



O not in vain doth He create 

Aught fi-om his affluent love jDroceeding ; 
The meanest hath appointed state, 

If only for the mightiest's needing ; 
The meteor and the thunder-stone 
Have use and mission of their own. 



1' 



t 



Christ hath not to his people sworn 
Blue heavens where summer glories sparkle. 

But foreheads crowned, like his, with thorn. 
And paths where shadowy winters darkle ; 

Yet ever hath the promise stood, 

" All things together work for good." 



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SABBATH CniMES. 



117 



v^ 



And blessedness is liigliest life ; 

When God's will all our Avill absorbetli ; 
As stars wliicli braved the midnight strife 

Die when the glorious morning orbeth ; 
And when we feel, 'mid threat'ning harms, 
The clasp of his encircling arms. 

Faith ! rest thou here, whate'er befall : 
The blighted hojje ; the serpent-slander ; 

The plague-SAvept household ; or the call 
O'er the returnless waves to wander. 

The tires which kindle sevenfold 

But burn the dross to prove the gold. 







Pi 



f 




VII. 



Is any among you aflSicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him 
sing psalms. — J^\jies v, 13. 

^v^l^'AND in hand tlirouifli all our ways 
''AliT'lir Jov and sorrow travel, 

J^l - I IMA " 

^|^"f\^ Making life a tangled maze 

1^ (^ "We may not unravel ; 
E'er at work to Iniild or mar, 
Like unsocial twins they are, 
Wreathing smile, or striking scar. 

Fleet of foot and wdde of range, 

On each traveler goeth ; 
Like experience of change 

Eveiy spirit knoweth : 
Whisper soft, or brawling loud. 
Zephyr sometimes, sometimes cloud : 
Here the bridal — there the shroud. 

Warp and woof of many threads 

Time is always weaving ; 
Year to year he sternly weds, 

Heedless of om- grieving ; 
Blending, in his ceaseless loom, 
Joy's bright crimson to illume 
Sable shades of doubt and doom. 



Il^^-^^^^-^^^-^^^^^^^-^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^ 






A 

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SABB A T n € HIM E S. 

Wlien the sorrow l)liglits our good, 

Do we chafe — rc^)iniiig ? 
Or discern, 'iieath cloak and hood, 

Angel form outshining ? 
Swell our hearts as swells the tide ? 
Do we in locked chambers hide 
Serpent craft or lion pride ? 

When joy's summer glories smite 
Do they bless or blind us ? 

Doth the pure celestial light 
Proud or thankful find us ? 

Doth some brief delirium dupe ? 

Brief as dew in flower-cup, 

Which the hot world drinketh up ? 

Blest to whom God shows his grace 

Hallowing all their trouble ! 
Those to whom his lifted face 

Makes their gladness double ! 
Commerce with the skies can teach 
Gospels beyond common reach — 
Blessedness too rare for speech. 

Nature in her worst unrest 

Spoken sorrow beareth. 
And when grief is unexpressed 

Only then despaireth ; 
Hearts will break which cannot weep ; 
Tears repressed from eyelids keep 
All the happy dews of sleep. 



119 



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IW SABBATH CHIMES. 

Winds, -whicli whisper to tlie woods, 

Joyous hearts resemble ; 
They would fain in gladdest moods 

Into language tremble ; 
One can never quite rejoice ; 
Without some dear answering voice 
Eden hath not half its joys. 

Hearts which glow, and hearts which bleed, 

God for each one careth ; 
Outlet for their strongest need 

He for each prepareth ; 
In restraint no longer pent ; 
Joy in bursts of song hath vent ; 
Sorrow prays, and is content. 




O for hearts of finer tone 

Hclj) of Heaven to borrow ! 
Be OM?" joys in praises sho^Ti, 

And in prayer our sorrow ; 
Till, like priests for service stoled, 
Awed as radiant clouds unfold, 
We shall God himself behold- 




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I SABBATH rniMFS. 1^1 A 

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VIII. 



^^ All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee, 

jl,^ Pbalm cxlv, 10. 



% * jJHf'W- w^^HEN art lias 2jras]oed some gracetul dream, '^> 

4i' yW/^y/ The artificer's fame is fed ; -Jj" 




Mid blaze of song some ling'riug gleam 
>,, Oi^^l' Will play around the poet's head. ^] 



/S^ 



iP As by rare skill, or rarer gift, 1 ' 

11,, " . . ^ 

jf« Men their own meaner glories raise, % 

S' Ceaseless the worlds of God uplift ''^r 

I . A 

Jj^' Their homage of jierpetual praise. ^ 



\ One chant of life and beauty thrills A 

I ' From wilding fern and stately tree ; Jl, 

1^ 'Tis thundered from the solemn hills, "1*^ 

Y%' And answered by th' exulting sea. '1 



UiDland the brooklet's music floats, m 

^ Each flower-cup bending to the tune ; A 

1^ The woodlands from a hundred throats A 

jlf Hymn praise beneath the list'nmg moon. \ 



»r 



'pi The countless stars which light the dark, '1 

'%■' Tribes that with life the greensward leaven, ^t. 

-^ The air which vibrates, while the lark f^^- 

>g^ "Warbles of summer and of heaven ; 

IG ^ 

1- 



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I 

ISS SABBATH CHIMh'b. .^ 

"^ Each pulse of light, each wave of sound, l|r. 

Each foresight shrewd, each wise design, ^^- 

AU swell, to the world's utmost bound, '5^ 

\ Praise to the forming Hand Divine. iJL 

\ Yet is it all tinconsaous praise, A 

'^ Struck from their nature, not from them; |l 
l^ As some old summer's buried rays 
y«/ Flash in a monarch's diadem. 



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Talk of his goodness in the ways, 

And lean upon bis gracious hand ; 
Intelligently speak his praise, 
!*; And learn his love to understand. 



JyK 



I 

Strong laws material forces bind, 'I"' 

As captives held in prison bars ; ^^ 

A^ The rev'rence of one baby-mind P'^. 

■^ Is nobler than a million stars, r^ 

t * 

j.^ AYliile fast the heedless seasons roll, 

I Nor know the truths which they express, ^ 
t. All nature " praises," — but the soul 

Of man — God's image — fain would bless 1 



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T Not like insensate nature, dumb ^1^ 

d*! Or tuneless, we our tribute pour : '^ 

■^ O priceless privilege ! We may come, 'f^ 

.^li And "bless" the God whom we adore! ''I" 












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HABBATH CHIMES. 

Blessing than praise is more. The heart 
Sends its quick love to prompt the tongue, 

And all its happy pulses start 

While the full sj^irit-psalm is sung. 

Let Nature in her Lord rejoice, 

Harmonous worlds his praise proclaim ! 

We, with glad heart and willing voice. 
Will " bless " him for his newest Name. 



:128 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 



Trinity^ 



IX. 

When he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way-sido watching: for 
his heart trembled for the ark of God. — 1 Sam0el iv, 13. 



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l^^/^ITII sightless eyes and silver hair 
An old man watched and wept ; 
And vexed thoughts wand'ring into jjrayer 
Within him strove and crept. 

He watched, for now the warrior's plume 

Waves in the distant war ; 
And clash of arms, and sound of doom, 

Burden the breeze afar. 

The way-side wand'rers jjaused to grieve 

For pain too large to share, 
All through the hours, till deep'ning eve, 

He still sat " watching " there. 



" Watching," as those who wake till dawn 
Lest some dear sleep Ite stirred ; 

Distrustful, as some startled fawn, 
A strayling from the herd. 



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Restless, as he who dreams tliat death ti 



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His argosy overwhelms; -j^j. 

.5r Timid as hares, when evening's l)i-eath 4' 

j^. Murmurs "mid stately elms. %. 



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\. No truant thouglit averts the look J, 



Strained straight toward the field : -J 



,j!L AVith one dread wish to rejid the book '| 

j; In mercy clasj^ed and sealed. '% 

■f 'I 

f; The book is read. The courier lips f' 

T" Are white with wrath of soul, ^ 

ff That such poor wrecks of gallant ships -f 

X"- On one lone strand should roll. ^ 

;•"- The patriot bows, like shaken tent, ^S 

r 'Neath blast of dire disgrace ; -l,^ 

-r: The judge outpours his sore lament A 

> - For Israel's evil case ; ) 



•4^. The tlither mourns the curse fulfilled, ) 

i Long spoken by the Lord, .,f 

X And weeps o'er both his children, killed '| 

|f Beneath one cruel sword. j* 

% ^& 

4 , % 

\. Yet the strong soul bore nobly up 'j'' 

•j"- Until the heaviest stroke, /■- 

\ " The ark is lost." This filled the cup ; 4< 

'5 And then the brave heart broke. •*; 

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SABBATH CHIMES. 

There is great need for El is yet, 
As watcliers tlirougli the dark, 

lu i^erilous times of conflict set. 
To tremble for the ark. 

Its foes, with vaunt and valor i)roud. 

Bear it to Dagon's fane, 
And hymn their fancied triumph loud, 

With many a frantic strain; 

Its friends are faint when duty calls. 
And droop beneath their load ; 

And scorners on their temple walls 
Have carven, " Ichabod." 

And some have made the ark a shiine, 
And some have woven charms, 

That victory may espy the sign, 
And wait ujjon their arms. 



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And some have sought for wizard gift. 

Like that unkingly Saul; 
And some, stretched Uzzah-hands, to lift 

From an imagined fall. 

And some, with ostentatious tramp. 

To warning omens blind, 
Have ta'en the ark into the camp, 

But left its God behind. 



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God needeth earnest men. 
17 



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i I 

■f SAHBATII CnlMES. 1S9 "»' 

T|' "Watch ! Avatch ! the subtle ijcril threats "^ 

S3/ The freedom of the bride ; 

•'6'^ The foe, unweary, ne'er forgets 

jl, His spirit-snares to hide. ^ 

t I 

I, Woe worth the day when Christian work A 

^|, Is done by faithless hands ; t 

i In traitor's wile more dangers lurk y 

^ Than in Philistine bands. "jl 

t t 

-§3;' The watchmen on the walls can guard ^^ 

-^y While marshaled armies wait ; ^;. 



.|r, But vain are sleepless watch and ward, jt^p. 

^1' If treason oj)es the gate. ^1- 

I i 

0^ O for the strong-souled prophets, back { 

"S' Our craven souls to cheer ! ^ 

1^ Whose fear of God constrained the lack % 

Of every meaner fear, %■ 

4 

J- . J 

■?■' To arms ! the martial shout prolong ; J?*; 

if*' Unfurl the flag again : ^?^ 

'3/ Give battle to the false and wi'ong ; ''5^ 

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iSO SABBATH CHIM?JS. 




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When he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it. — Lttke xix, 41. *| 

'LAD -welcomes float around, 

Palm-branches strew the ground ; 

( :^ Not only do the nameless few ^"^ 

■ 'J^ *j^ 

Their plighted vows renew, '%' 

'"% Ten thousand hearts shed homage, like a summer dew. '%, 

I i 

Jl "Haste! and your tiibute bring ; h 

\ Behold our promised King ! " A 

Hf Straight each to each the tidings tells, \ 

r' Till, like the joyous bells ^ 

7'^ Which ring for bridals, through Jerusalem it swells. ''|r 

%. There's trouble on his brow : ,*&, 

|- Why throb the heart-strings now ? rf^ 

1^. Now, when the world's acclaim he hears, a^ 
\ Wlien seeming triumph nears, 
^ Wliy do those kind eyes sadden into rain 

'%j Not for himself oppressed, 

%h Though " marred " above the rest, ?,h: 

^ No passion e'er in him rebelled ; '5^ 

\, His heart's fierce storm he quelled, i^L 

':. As, by imperial law, old ocean's pride is held. Jl 

1 ^ 

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SABBATH CHIMES. ISl 

It was no selfish woe 
Wliicli bade liis tears to flow ; 
But pity, when the glory fled 
From Sion's sacred head ; 
And sorrow, when he, mourning, gazed on Lazarus dead. 

Before him, as he passed, 
Slept the fair city, glassed 
In morning's mirror — -clear and gray ; 
He saw th' advancing day 
When pomp of wall and tower in shaj)eless ruin lay. 



jj"' And, vision drearier far j 

Yr Than earth's sad ruins are, A' 

if ' H 

1^- Souls which, m keenest wrath and scorn, ^ 

'|- Had him, the Christ, forsworn, Y' 

V He saw by headlong hate to hopeless ruin borne. J' 

r . y 

-y_ " If thou hadst known, e'en thou," -^H- 

X Ere night had come ; but now -\ 

^ No more the day-star woos thine eyes i.p 

^ With blush of orient skies ; J| 

ji' 'Tis night, and on that night no morn shall ever rise. Js ^ 

i 

still through the circling years p 

Those matchless, pitiful tears "%' 

Speak to us, — as the covenant sign, Jr.; 

Wliose light-braids God doth twine, ^, 

Speaks in the heaven, — of love, which blends with .§^ 

power div-ine. J. 

i 



" He wept " for our sore loss, 
The tears — before tlie cross ; 
Grief flowered into atoning deed, 
He gave himself to bleed 
That life from death might sjiring; safety from direst 
need. 

His tears our weakness chide. 
" He wept ! " then we confide ; 
Distrust were fouler treason still 
Against that loving will. 
Which fain would clasp a world, and shield it from 
aU ill. 

" He wept ! " then we should wail 
Our fellows' blight and ail ; 
Be Jesus our high pattern yet ! 
Then we shall ne'er forget 
He frankly canceled ours. Now ours to all the debt. 




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SABBATH CHIMES. 



181 



Tritiittj. 



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XI. 



Two men -went up into the temple to pray : the one a Pharisee and the 
other a publican. — Ltike xviii, 10. 



][' ;ITH lirow ui^raised, as one who sees his laeers, 
From some tall summit, dwarf to lesser size, 
Free from all vulgar awe or feeble tears, 
Courting all eyes 



To gaze upon his eyes, alight with pride — 

Behold the Pharisee ! a statelier sort 
Of man, not made of clay, fit to abide 
In temple court, 

As his own heart assm-ed him. Bound to thanks 

For duty done and life enjoyed, to God ; 
But not to wail o'er sin, like meaner ranks 
Of common clod. 

Proud as he passed, his eye's dilating globe 

Fell on a poor wretch crouching in the aisle, 
And, gathering uj) the fiinges of his robe 
From chance defile. 



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134- 



SABBATH CHI2IES. 



He to the altar strode with lordly scorn, 

And spoke liis thanks to self and God again, 
For the rare j)rivilege of not l;)eing born 
"As other men." 






Blind to the beauty of all high desire. 

Content with husks, not fruit, he clung to form, 
As one who blows white ashes of the fire. 
Saying, " I'm warm." 



1 



With eyes that sought the ground, and inly burned 

With that di'y sorrow which is keenest pain ; 
Longing for tears, if but " the clouds returned 
After the rain ;" 



I 



Crushed by the one large, deadly sense of sh: 

Fearing to look toward the holy place. 
Lest he should find nor cleft to shelter in, 
Nor smile of grace. 

Came the poor sinner to the place of prayer ; 
Not with the voice of some exulting psalm. 
But with dim, tremulous hope, which scarcely dare 
Expect its balm. 

The homeless, flying from the furious blast. 
Heeds not the passer-by, although a king ; 
So filled with grief, the scorn upon him cast 
Had lost its stms:. 



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SABBATH CHI^fES. 

No pomp of words the lalj'riiig silence broke ; 

Mutely the eye besought, the lips implored ; 
Then, jjassionate, the heart leaped forth and spoke, 




.\^ " Have mercy, Lord ! " X 

^ -^^ 

■^ And could no more ; for then a storm arose, -"| 

1 " Sweeiamg through all the chaml^ers of the mind, "f'' 

5>r, As when through northern forests shrieks and blows -,& 

Y- The wintry wind. ^i 



And He, the highest, sat in heaven and heard 1| 

The voice of both. For upward to his throne ^i 

There rise alike the ostentatious word ^^ 

X And under-tone J 



Beside His own ? 



'j' Spoken in murmurs. Whether vaunted loud, I 

T' Or held, like some shy secret in the mind, ^f 

.x He answers each — the contrite and the proud — i 

'»f - After their kind. -^. 

h J. 

sjL To some — like Caiaphas and Herod — naught ; I, 

|c To some, the smoke and whirlwind, as to Cain ; -J 

y To some, the whisper, which, inbreathed to thought, ) 

|, Can soothe its pain. , !l 

|- " Who ask not have not." Why should men repine 

\^ That He is jealous, and will reign alone ? 

>l> Nor sufter us to rear an idol-shrine V 



1; 






^^p^l^^^^^'^^^fi^^.^^^^^^^^^^^^^J^'^^ 



SABBATH CHIMES. 

Wlio bows to self, of God liath small regard. 

His pride he worships — let his pride befriend ; 
And " seen of men," of men he reaps reward 
Until the end. 

But when the sinners jDOur their anguished prayer, 
All heaven is hushed while God himself imparts, 
And " gathers up the fi-agments," to re^jair 
Theii' broken hearts. 








4 i 

I SA BJ)A Til (JIIIMES. 137 '¥ 

'•fV '/Ik-^ 

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4^ As the n.^nntains arc round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about i 

"ll his people from henceforth even for ever.— Psvlm cxxv 2 '<'' 

Y ^^^Sl^<^'IRCLED as by angel bands, '^ 

t" '^iK?4 What should the cliosen jjeople fear? A- 

t 'iSf ^^^"'*^ ^^'^^' " ^"^^^""^^ ''^'^"^^^ " ^'^'^"^ stands, |^ 

it ^'^ Through tempest shocks, in desert drear, X 

*|, The Lord their God, with gracious hands % 

L Uplift to bless and cheer. J 

? "^ 

4;; The mountains round Jerusalem T 

v| Their ceaseless vigil ne'er forget ; "f 

).. Yonder the hills of Moab gem 'k" 

j,'' The north with pink and violet ; '^T 

I' Here, rich with many a stately stem, 5^ 

T Tlie Olive-mount is set. ^k 



^ The city sleeps within the guard Y 

I' Thrown o'er her, as a sevenfold shield ; %k 

fi' And such the loving watch and ward ?^ 

%, 'Which God hath on his children sealed; i 

h; ^" amulet— whose spell hath barred X 

\i* v ■ 

<, All perils earth can yield. i 



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13B SABBATH CHIMES. 



Whether afar they wander wide, 



Go where the arctic rigors freeze 
The hardy life-blood in the veins ; 

Or tempt the ire of treach'rous seas ; 
Or cross sirocco-haunted plains ; 

In heat, or frost, or stomi, or breeze, 

The Lord our God remains. 



f 



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1 
Or nightly on his breast have leaned, ^^'■ 

No distance from his love can hide '^^ 

The souls that boundless love hath screened ; ^^. 

Safe, if they in his arms abide, ^|> 

From traitor or from fiend. J 



Though we inconstant are, and frail, 
Our weakness he doth not upbraid ; 

But through the midnight hears the wail 
From frenzied hearts in anguish made ; 

And sendeth songs upon the gale 

To warble throuo'h the fflade. 



For earth hath ne'er so lone a spot IT 

But litanies can freight the air ; ' £ 

The bosky Avoodland's secret grot '^ 

Can charter an imploring prayer ; "y"- 

And e'en where trace of man is not, '^5b. 
God buildeth temi)les there. 



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SABBATH cniMES. 

O, can lie murmm- who can pray, 
And with a present God commime ? 

Who carols, on his guarded way, 
The caden: e of some heavenly tune ? 

And knows that into fadeless day 

He will be lifted soon ? 

Those eyes on which no slumbers steal 
Their tenderness of watching bring ; 

And we the brilliant shadows feel. 
The shadows of his shelt'ring wing; 

"While angels hover round, to seal 

The children of the King. 

" Henceforth for ever ? " O to lie, 
Like the beloved, on Jesus' breast ! 

See in the storm the Lord jDass by. 
And meet him on the l)iIlow's crest ! 

Then cheerful 'neatli the purple sky 

Depart, with him to rest. 



139 










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14-0 SABBATH CHIMES. 

XIII. 

They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest. — Isaiau Ix, 3. 

^^HAT time, in twilight hour, the wains, 
Rich with their freight of golden gains, 




^ Move homeward through the fragrant lanes, 



Beneath the crisp autumnal skies, 
The harvest-carols love to rise ; 
While day in gorgeous sunsets dies. 

Then industry and homely pride 
Sit on the hearth-stone, satisfied. 
In the calm thought of need supijlied 

Then olden hopes enkindled long. 

To make men e'en through winter strong, 

Die in delight, as swans in song. 

Then, not doled out for niggard need, 

The riches all the toils exceed. 

The yield is wealthier than the seed. 

Then burns a pure, unselfish joy ; 
Pure as the faith of gen'rous boy. 
Which the false years will soon destroy ; 



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•!•&' A iov withnnt, or stint, or p-nilfi. y^ 



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A joy without or stint or guile, 

As tlie glad sun's impartial smile 

Wliicli lights dark vault and minster aisle. 



Whose lip in cold disdain had curled, 
"Whose heart by greed and self was churled, 
"Would fain arise and feed the world. 






l"' Every one's jo j^ — a holy thing, |. 

'I' "Which touches all — the sct'i^tered king T 

^'! And peasant — lord of crust and spring. '% 
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1^ And thus — the prophet's lips reveal — 

-jj' With no distempered pulses, feel 

\ Who at Christ's altar rev'rent kneel. 

J 

"^^ They throb with joy of need supplied ; ^ 

"4^ The rock in which they haste t' abide, ^ 

%, Doth still the healing fountain hide. % 

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J, E'en at the glimjDse of Saviour's form J, 

Their fears are fled — though wont to swarm X 

Like omens of a constant storm. I 

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4^ The angel-hands are bid prepare 'm 

•^ Bread for the hungry, "and to spare ;" % 

%, The richest robe, the daintiest fare. m 

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\ No selfish mminurs spoil the feast. 3^ 

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I Love reigns. He who hath loved the least, \ 

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T Dry as ungen'rous sands of east. 



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Tlicy joy " before Thee." If thy light 
Beam not upon the wand'ring sight 
The rapture is not perfect quite. 

The aimless glances rove and stray 
As some fair child's, whose frolic play 
Is spoiled if father is away. 

'Tis Thine to tune each loving chord, 
Thou giv'st " the joy of harvest " — Lord ! 
Father ! at once beloved, adored ! 

Fulfill the longing thou hast given. 
Darkly from former Edens driven, 
Give us thyself— that gift is heaven. 









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XIV. 

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in licavenly 
places ml;jht be linown by the Church the manifold wisdom i>f God. — 
Epuesians iii, 10. 

/:, w*^Spo3HE eldest-born of God rejoiced 

When light from cleaving darkness sprang, 
, ij .■^ And choirs of angels, myriad-voiced, 
5 Exulting woke, and sang. 



Endowed with suljtler sense than we, 

They saw the glory of the Lord 
Flash from fair earth and silver sea ; 

And, seeing, each adored. 



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Like minstrels Avhom their theme absorbs, 

Till reckless who may bend to hear; 
So, filled with song, those stately orbs 

Asked for no heark'ning ear. 

Li fullness of the later time, 

(;)n favored Bethlehem's pastured jjlain, 
The wakeful shepherds caught the chime 
Of heavenly hosts again. 



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Drawn from their thrones by high desire 

The love of God in Christ to scan, 
Compassion swept each seraph-lyre 

To breathe "good-will to man." 

And list'ning worlds, from angel lips, 

Heard strains of " rapturous amaze," 
And felt each new apocalypse 

More prodigal of praise. 

But now, just as a noble boy 

Beneath some spell of language thrown, 
Is wild to reproduce the joy 

Of each remembered tone. 

The Church lielow, in that strange lore 

Which contrite hearts are apt to learn. 
Provokes the angels to adore. 

As she responds in turn. 

Earth sings to heaven. Ye radiant powers 

Who track the " wisdom " of the King ! 
Exalt your highest praise by ours, 

Who quiver while we sing ! 

Where battling tempests shake the skies, 

They melt to depths of softest blue. 
From crushed herbs sweetest odors rise 
Kissed by the pitying dew. 



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For canceled curse cand pain. 



O how could angels e'er exjiress 

The harp-song of one human breast ? .1 

^ , They never felt our weariness ; 4 

^^. Tliey cannot sing our rest. I 

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.^_ Hence silent are the heavenly choir, -i 

While men shout, " Greater to redeem ; " 'f 

V One wail from rebel heart is hio-her %' 
I Than chant of cherubim. jf'- 

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J. They sing— all-holy in their ranks— T' 

V Of perfect work in perfect stram ; ^ 
1^ We, wealthier, stammer forth our thanks '^- 



Twice, downward, from the loving sky, ^,5^ 

■^ Their joyous Inu'sts of praise are known ; '| 

J.' Twice, upward, our poor minstrelsy ^' 

^ Swells to the sai)phire throne. ,f 



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^ In theirs we join. Our hymn of grace 

|r Baffles each angel skill to reach ; "^ 

X The loftiest pajan of the place '% 

I, Is woven from human speech. ~i 

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IJf-6 SABBATH CHIMES. 

XV. 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.— Matthew vi, 2S. 
I will be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lilly. 
— IlosEA xiv, 5. 




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LOSE sheltered in some fragrant nook 

Beside the wanton river, 
Or bending o'er the carol mg brook 
'^'^5^ Whose love-song ceaseth never, 
The trembling lily seeks to hide 
Her first faint blush of maiden pride. 

She wraps herself in emerald dress, 
From each rude gazer's viewing. 

Nor dreams her bashful loveliness 
Inflames the zephyr's wooing ; 

Till, each fair coronal impearled. 

She bares her beauty to the world. 



Not in the bold and gay parterre, 
'Mid queenlier flowers flaunting; 

She loves to smile in silence, where 
Such smiles are sorely wanting, 

To reign in some far woodland court, 

"Wliere biixl and brook hold summer sport 



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Not thankless for the sun and shower, 

Her saintly life she liveth ; 
The pure heart of her stainless flower 

In gratitude she giveth: 
Heedful of heaven, but loving, too, 
The dear moss-bank on which she ffrew. 



'Tis thus they live ! these emblems sweet 
Of hearts God's love hath samted, 

Which, sheltered in their blest retreat, 
Keep Eden's bloom imtainted ; 

For " as the lily " they shall grow 

By the still waters' ordered flow. 



At Jesus' feet unseen, imheard, 

Each lowly one down lieth, 
And feeds on that ambrosial Word 

Which every need supplieth ; 
Till, ripe for the awaiting hour. 
They stand — God's priests of love and power. 



Making life gay with happy psalms, 
They work amid their praying. 

On darkened homes, in angel alms. 
Fresh light fi'om heaven outraying ; 

Till eyes grow bright, and prayer ascends 

For blessings on the lost one's friends. 



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SABBATH Cni3IES. 

Thus, while alike to heaven and earth 

They willing service render, 
Each hour some fairer charm hath birth 

Till, as in sunset splendor, 
In all their jjcarl-white beauty stored, 
They grace the garden of the Lord. 



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i^ Ho came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still, 

^ And he said. Young man, I sav unto thee, Arise. And he that was ^° 

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dead satuj), and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 
— Luke vii, 14, 15. 



Y* Ij/^p^ORTH through the solemn street ^' 

5< xJ^ The sad procession swept, ^ 

, « ^^^M Pacing its mournful way mth measured feet : ^^ 

% f^r- Wliile inly wept '%,. 

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One mourner, in a grief ^S^ 

, Stern as the silent years, ^ 

a^ Which seemed to mock the common, weak relief ^J^ 

I, Of outward tears. ."I 

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% Keen was her sense of loss, ^' 

An agony untold ; \ 

For Death had seized, amid a world of dross, •^ 

i'' Her piece of gold. ^i 

X, A 

^ They bore her only son ; ^ 

'',%> Star of her evening, fled ; ''^ 

Jj^' Wliose lesser light recalled that vanished one ^. 

<■ Now long since dead. J^- 

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For lier best loved had died ; 

And, stunned from former bruise, 
The widow's joyous oil of life had dried 
Within her cruse. 

Desert her heart, and bare ; 

Like lone house on a wild ; 
No voice to make blithe music on the stair, 
No lauffhino; child. 



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No solace from the past, 

No hope in days to come, 
She cowered as if "sorrow's second blast 
Had struck her dumb. 

But, near the city's verge, 
A sudden silence came ; 
The hired mourners swift forbore their dirge. 
As if in shame 



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To mourn a lifeless clod 

With such despairing cry. 
While the Redeemer — " the strong Son of God "— 
Was passing by. 

"He came and touched the bier." 
They wait, in curious pause : 
Has He the power and will to interfere 
With Nature's laws ? 



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SABBAT U CUI21ES. 

He walked upon the waves ! 

His word the thousands fed ! 
[s he imiDerial in the place of graves 
Over the dead ? 

Then si^ake the royal word ; 

And, quick with rushing throes, 
The red life in the clay obedient heard ; 
The dead arose ! 

And spoke — just as before — 
Unconscious of eclipse ; 
Like babe, who only knows that night is o'er 
From motlier's lips. 

Or one wiio, free from harm, 
From the perfidious sea 
Comes home, and finds all in his father's fann 
"Wliich used to be. 

No desert ch-eam of tombs, 

Naught l)ut life's love and joy ; 
As Natm-e has no thought, 'mid summer blooms, 
That storms destroy. 

The same through endless time, 
Thus Jesus healeth now : 
With " many cro^\Tis," for victories sublime, 
Upon his brow. 
20 



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1^4- S ABB ATE CRIMES. 

Conq'ror in eacli stern fight 

O'er mortal sin and dread ; 
And miglity, from corruption's foulest night, 
To raise the dead. 



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XVII. /3,^.-^*t -I-- 

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which arc behind, and reaching \, 

forth nnto those things which are before.— Philipimans iii, 13. 'S^ 




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^ ® ^' HAKE from the soul its sloth ! 1 

"^ These are not times Christ's service to refuse. X 

Heir of two worlds ! for both '\ 

Thy spirit's manhood nobly brace and use ; '^ 

Till glisten, on earth's clouds, thy bright life's covenant- 4 

hues. r'^ 



Oft memory has embalmed J 

The recollections of what used to be ; X 

■^^ Until, like shi^js becalmed, \ 

j, ^^ slumber on the dead past's waveless sea ; f" 

J* Nor fi-om that sluggish dream e'er struggle to be free. *| 

i %" 

W- O for the constant mind ^|- 

^ All meaner things to use and to control ! A 

-m Till, like some faithful hind, <X' 

i|, ^^^ sei-ves his lord for love, and not for dole ! J', 

1 _ Earth is but vassal to the heaven-asp iiing soul. T~ 

K %' 

Y This only thing to do, '^_ 

Y Nor waste our spendthrift power on many plans. i^" 
,^' A steadfast heart and true .|^ 
■M Inheriteth all fiivor,— God's and man's ;— ' 
^^ Weds earth to heaven ; and angels smile upon the bans. 






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SABBATH CJII3IES. 



As, when the storm hath blown, 
What time for rain the sultry woodlands parched. 

Bends lovingly the zone 

Of many colors in one rainbow arched ; 

So to one goal we bend each footstei? of our march. 



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Or, as the wild bees roam 
Through the rose-gardens and the w'oodbine bowers, 

Bringing one essence home 
From their sweet rifling of a thousand flowers ; 
So may we hoard for heaven our heritage of hours. 



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Why should we linger o'er 
Each ancient i^leasure, each familiar bond ? 

Or all the golden store 
Of childhood's witching spells, or raptures f jnd ? 
Thoj cling to these who have no better home beyond. 



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We are not children now. 
Past is that season, credulously gay ; 

And manhood's sterner vow 
Impels us to the field of mortal fray. 
And woe to those who blench, or coward turn away ! 



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%> We may but pass the night 

%^ On the gained summit, 'mid the shelt'ring snow ; 

■^ Forth starting with the light, 

]L still upward to -the higher crest to go ; 

^1- Yearning, in present good, the glorious lest to know. 



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157 



"We may not stay to quaff 
The cujDS of welcome where the loved ones greet, 

But grasp the iDalmer-staft" 
And strap the sandals on the hurrying feet, 
Lest, in the amber morn we fail our Lord to meet. 

" Forgetting all behind." 
O to press forward where the glories wait ! 

Nor e'er our loins unbind 

Till we are safe AYithin the lifted gate, 

A.mid the crowned, and in their kindred joy elate ! 



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XVIII. 

Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy. Son, be of 
good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. — Matthew ix, 2. 

f/^:j HO -will doubt that wishful mother 
Loves beyond all bribe or hire, 
Though she gives some answer other 
\- Than her fretful child's desu-e? 

Strongest love is farthest sighted, 
Sees the sun beyond the cloud, 
By a richer radiance lighted, 
With a su))tler sense endowed. 

More than all our poor petitions 

Oft our Saviour loves to grant, 
But on heavenlier conditions 

Than our earth-bound longings want. 
"We lament o'er strange denials ; 

Idle words of fruitless prayer ; 
Beaded in the golden vials, 

Christ has made them fragrant there. 

We in present sorrow languish, 
Gaze on heaven with eyelids dim, 

Ask relief from mortal anguish. 
Paining nerves or palsied limb ; 



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But the Christ-eyes smile benignly, 
Seeing deeper needs within, 

And the Christ-lips speak di\dnely, 
AVhisp'rmg of forgiven sin. 

Healing this the deadlier cancer, 

Speaking all the spirit pm-e ; 
"Were not here a nobler answer 

Than the shriveled flesh to cure % 
All our litanies comprising. 

By new insight understood, 
'Neath a seeming frown disguising. 

Brightest smile and chiefest good. 

Lord ! with humblest joy receiving 

All thy cleansing word can do ; 
Haply, while we lie, believing 

Thou wilt heal the palsy too ; 
Make the great salvation double. 

Pour on soul and flesh the balm, 
Loose the wailing heart fi'om trouble, 

Fit it for the victor's palm. 

Teach our wayward souls reliance 

That thy will is always best. 
Though by stern and strange ajDiiliance 

Thou dost shape us for our rest. 
By thy grace we all inherit 

Power to bear the cross and shame ; 
Firm endurance ; martyr-spirit ; 

Singing saintly 'mid the flame. 






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160 SAB HA TIT CHIMES. 

When amid life's broken sleeping 

Troubled visions o'er us roll, 
And there break out floods of weeping 

From the " great deep " of the soul ; 
Let our faith, in thee confiding. 

Trust that thou wilt heal and save ; 
Till, contented in thy guiding. 

We shall pass the conquered grave. 






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XIX. 

Why stand ye here all the day Idle ? — Matthew xx, 6. 






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"V' ir^tiul^^J^WO fields for toil — the outer aud the inner, 

■^le % iM Botli overgrown with weeds ; ^"i' 

"C :^'1^3 Who to the labor hastes, to be the winner ^^ 

k, i Of all the laborer's meeds ? ^ 

"l' To Ijathe in radiant mornings, daily sj^reading ^ 

Over the heavens anew ; "1 

To sit 'neath trees of life, forever shedding '^ 

Their bomiteous honey-dew. ^'^ 

To ronse a spirit, formed for God, from shiniber, X 

V And robe it for the light : 1 

"J^ The heirs of heaven from clay to disencumber, ■v 

T* Which clogs their upward flight. T 

-X, To lift a world, 'neath sin and sorrow lying, ^L 

■3 And " pour in oil and wine ;" ^3 

T To warble, in the dulled ears of the dying, ^ 

■^' . . . ^ ■ 

I Refrains of hymns divine. a 

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&.' Work for a lifetime, in each path up-sjjringing, ^ 

^ In low or lofty spheres ! ^^ 

..L, Hark to the Master's summons, always ringing ^v 

■Jr In quick and heedless ears ! I 



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Lo ! in the fields the yellow harvest drooping, 
As lilies in the rain ; 



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i 16S SABBATH CRIMES. \ 

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'■^, Cool brain, strong sinew, heart with love o'erflowing, 

-l^, Shall all in sloth escape ? 

-J^ Like vine, which, fi-uitless through its wanton growing, A- 

\ Ne'er purples into grape ! ^ 

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\ The daylight wanes and dies — " "Wliy stand ye idle ? '• A 

\ Life hasteth to its bourne ! |^ 

■f ■ The bridegroom tarries — will ye greet the bridal, T^ 

"p* Or in the darkness mourn ? '^I ' 

I 

'1^ Where are the reapers, that they come not, troojjing, ■^- 

-r To gather in the grain ? 'J^ 

X. I 

j^ Some, in the festive hall disporting gaily; J^ 

\ On slothful pUlow, some ; A 

\ Some, in delays most blameful, and yet daily l! 

Exclaiming, "Lo, I come." T~ 

And some, infatuate, 'mid the alien^s scoffing, I 

Quarrel about their toil ; % 

As wreckers, when ships founder in the offing. 
Grow murderous over spoil. 



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^ Meanwhile the harvest waiteth for the reaping, 

^ God's patience hath not tired. • ^^ 

% Ye cannot say — extenuate of your sleeping — /^ 

■. " We wait, for none hath hired." h: 

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Tlu'ough the hushed noon-tide hour the IVIaster callcth 
Ye cannot choose but hear; 

Still sounding when the lengtli'niug shadow falleth, 
" Why stand ye idle here ?" 

Up ! for a while the jjitymg glory lingers ! 

Work while it yet is day ! 
Then rest the Sabbath rest — where angel-singers 

Make melody for aye. 



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" Now this poor swept home does but mock the other, 



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Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. — Joiur xi, 32. ■% 

*' fvW">.tW^'E Cometh not, althous-h we sent him tidin2;3 '"iii' 

'f M^lii Soon as around our hearts the darkness grew, j'' 

'jiK 1^ ' ilT ^^' whom till now, not love, though prone to ■^' 

4 ^h chidings, -|: 

'Sl Could deem untrue. ^' 

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'j^ " Ah me ; our eyes were weary with their straining, \ 

jfL To see him traversing the olived slope ; X. 

.jl; Died, one by one, out of hearts bruised and paining, i,S- 

\ ' Hope after hope. % 

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ji ' *' And through the leaden hours we watched him fading, ^ 

\,. With whom the sun and stars went from the day ; V 

•|^ Till, sjjite of tears, and tenderest upbraiding, .|^ 

^^ He slept away. 

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Wliere the kind lightnings played from side to side ; A- 

m^ ' Ah, Lord ; if thou hadst but been here, our brother ,h'^ 

J^' Would not have died ! "* ^ 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 

j>^^ But soon, as shoots a star to siglit, a rumor 

Strikes on the ear and heart that Jesus ncars ; 
How at the sound each wild resentful humor 
Dissolves in tears ! 

He comes too late ! the loved one hath departed ; 
V* The covetous grave hath opened for its own ; 

Loud is the wailing of the broken-hearted 
Above the stone. 






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" Take ye away the stone." It will encumljer 

The living in his passage from the dead. 
The sleeper rose, cast off his desert slumber, 
And left his bed. 

Vain is the tomb's eml)race, the spoiler's malice. 

To him who drank himself the Ijitter cup ; 
He speaks — the life-wine mantleth in the chalice, 
And brimmeth up. 



" Not unto death, but for the Father's glory." 

Through the hushed world the j^urpose is comijlete, 
For they who mourned, and we who read the story. 
Bow at his feet. 

Dear human Friend, who wept before his praying. 

Such tears as fall fi"om our own weary eyes ! 
But through those tears there shone the Godhead, saying, 
" Lazarus, arise ! " 



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166 



SABBATH CHI3IES. 



Restored again to the deeiJ joy of being, 

How the fond heart with love is ne'er sufficed ! 
" The eye is " never " satisfied with seeing " 
The face of Christ. 



And all the soul bends forth, entranced, to listen 

While grace and truth come sparkling in each word ; 
As on the sjjray the morning dewdi'oiJS glisten 
For bee or bird. 



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What wonder Love's sweet incense shed around him 

Her wealth of spikenard — in libation poured ! 
What wonder Faith, with loyal reverence, crowTied him 
Her God and Lord ! 



He loves the human yet, with love undying. 

And stills heaven's music while he leaves his throne, 
From every charuel where our love is lying 
To roll the stone. 



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167 



XXI. 

Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I for,^lve him? 
until seven times?— Matthew xviii, 21. 

|SW|*^^^TH large, roimd wonder in their eyes, 
M^P As chiklren guess their onward w^ay, 
'^pX- Awaking to some new suq)rise 
-^A I- Of thought and being, day by day, 

So the meek souls at Jesus' feet 

Left all their narrow spheres behind; 

And sat, and learaed, in converse sweet, 

Which charmed, the while it cleared, the mind. 

Ali-eady many a film has gone 

Which vailed the Heavenly from their view; 
And, as the healing power works on. 

The man looms broader than the Jew. 

" How often. Lord, dost thou require 

Forgiveness to transgressors shown ? 
Till seven times shall the coals of fire 
Upon the thankless heart be throwai ? " 



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Strong was the soul, and firm the hand, 
Which grasped a virtue great as this, 

In those stern times, when no command 

Had taught that love was strength and liliss. 

But as the jjilgrim, wild'ring, dwells 
And lingers o'er some pur2)led scene. 

Where sunlight streams through bosky dells, 
On ivied cliff's, in deep ravine ; 

Yet feels the thoughts enkindled are, 
Like wordless music, sweet but dim, — 

So sweet, they bear his soul afar. 

So vague, he cannot catch the hymn ; — 

Thus fear and joy, when Jesus saith, 
" Not for the seventh, but endless time," 

Blend in the prayer, " Increase our faith 
To scope and stature so sublime." 

O for the heaven-imparted might 
The true God-likeness to exjiress ! 

The man, when smitten, turns to smite ; 
The God, offended, bends to bless. 

The sun shines, though is rendered back 
No gratitude of flowers and balms ; 

The rain, e'en on the simoon-track, 
Can find some lovely isle of palms. 



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SABBATH Cni2rES. 169 



In crime all preiiiaturely old ; 
A viper, stinging mercy's licel ; 






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" Seventy times seven" — ^vider flow 

The riiDples of the Gospel-wave, i«^ 

Till it embrace thy friend, thy foe, ^ 

The worst thou hast this side the grave. 



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*| Though he lie thankless, cruel, cold; ^l^ 

^ By long pain hardened not to feel ; T 

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-i|'^ Into the dust his rage hath hurled ; 

X, Though charity hath naught but frowns S 

J, To give this orphan of a world ; ( 

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(, Yet if he contrite weep, and burn 

■r With long desire to be forgiven, •?*' 

■^*' Thine enemy thou shalt not spurn, --K' 

%' Thou, for whom Christ hath piu'chased heaven. 

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L, Where once He died, where now he lives, 

^- The Saviour whispers to his own, 

1 " Who much is pardoned, much forgives." 

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SABBATH CRIMES. 




XXII. 

Te are come unto Mount Zion . . . and to the spirits of just men 
made perfect. — Hebrews xll, 22, 23. 

k THERE are times of saddest shrift 

For these poor hearts of ours ! 
When weeping for some vanished gift, 
Whose loss seemed from our earth to lift 
The sunshine and the flowers ; 

When rustle round the heart dead leaves 

From olden autumn strown ; 
And pensive memory sits and weaves 
Crowns out of faded flowers, and grieves 

Those dear ones — yonder flown. 

Who says that death can conquer love ? 

Thoughts of the treasured past 
Come dark'ning all the years above ; 
As, with the olive leaf, the dove 

Sped homeward through the blast. 

Each fond remembrance, ling'ring stays, 

Green as the grass on graves ; 
The ancient looks, the winsome ways, 
The wealth of love more sweet than praise ; 
These memory hides and saves. 



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SABBATH CHIMES. 171 >^' 



Their steps are ou tlie liousehold stair ; 

We are not all bereft. 
They sit in the familiar chair ; 
Echo the laugh, and swell the prayer, 

As if they ne'er had left. 



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Thus fancy tricks the grosser sense, 

Not loth to be deceived : 
Thus clings the love, in poor pretense 
It cannot bid the \'ision hence. 

Half dreaded, half believed. 

But they are not beneath the sod 

Imprisoned, hopeless, dumb ; 
Awaking to the smile of God, 
They follow where the Saviom- trod, 
And have " to Zion " come. 

With all the choicest company 

They, our beloved, abide ; 
Church of the first-born — seraphs liigh, 
Down-darting from the upper sky : 

Gathered to greet the Bride. 



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There we may join and love them still, 

And list their wondrous tale. 
And ramble round the peopled hill. 
And with twin rapture gaze and thrill ; 
For O ! how thin the vail ! 



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Talk not of death ! in covenant one 

Still heart responds to heart ; 
And though for them the strife is done, 
The palm is waved, the battle won, 
We will not — cannot — part. 



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And we — the while we strive and pray 

'Gainst mysteries of sin, 
And don Christ's armor as we may, 
And, manful, cleave our hindered way 

Where they have entered in. 

Feel each loved presence by our side 

Our strife to nerve and cheer ; 
While, in the fiercest fight descried, 
He speaks — the Lord, who loved and died, 

They — /—await you here. 







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Triuittj, 

XXIII. 

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partaliers 
of the inheritance of the saints in light.— Colossians i, 12. 

iWrJWf ^CONSCIOUS sowers, scattering seed, 
We sow for harvests of a future reaping. 

O, solemn life ! in every deed 
Yielding some secrets for the Judge's keeping, 
Which years will rei)roduce 
For sorrow or for use. 




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Close are the subtle links which bind 
This life to that to which its fleeting hasteth ; 

Our nature is for 1)0111 designed, 
And each fair joy th' exulting spirit tasteth 
Is from that God who fills 
The rock's wild heart with rills. 

And this poor world is full of joys 

When light immortal rests on it )»enignly. 

And the man's heart within the ))oy's 

Longs for those glorious morns, Avhich break divinely, 

And turns to eastern skies 

With bliss of ujjward eyes. 



r 174 



SABBATH CHIMES. 



But who shall make our nature meet 
For such great heirship ? — ours — who hoard the treasure 

The vain world flingeth at our feet, 
Or woo, 'neath gay festoons, some fickle jileasure, 
Or, with obsequious i)lumes 
Cover the jDrophets' tombs ? 



'Tis he, the Father, whose rich love 
Hath changed the heart, to new desires awaking, 

And shaped it for its home above ; 
The vagrant dream into the heavenlj^ breaking ; 
Till all the sloth and sin 
Yield to his discipline. 



The Father doth not trust his own — 
So loved, so yearned for — to the careless stranger ; 

Nor may kind angel leave his throne. 
Who feels the bliss, but has not felt the danger. 
The Father's chastening mild 
Alone can win the child. 



It may be that the strength was shorn, 
The pride of manhood humliled prematurely ; 

But from the feebleness was l)orn 
The true God-likeness in the spirit surely. 

Then be the loud heart mute ! 
Autumn hath richest fruit. 



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175 



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Haiily, the timid spirit leant 
On others, as a staff, — those wise and kind ones. 

To whom, of right, the rev'rence went ; 
As thougli, so led, the stejDS could ne'er be l)lind ones. 
The staff broke ; and, o'erthrown, 
We rose, and walked alone. 

Our hea t, like summer-tendril, clings 
To earth, replete with sacramental graces ; 

Death breathes upon our lovely things ; 
The friend, the child, look down with angel-feces ; 
Then we uplift the cry, 
" Give peace, and let us die." 

Thou knowest always what is best. 
Our souls, down-lying on loved earth, to gather ; 

Perfect this meetness in our breast ; 
We will lie still, and give thee thanks, O Father ! 
Till, with the ransomed throng. 
Life flowers into song. 




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Trinity, 



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Then said Jesus unto tLe twelve. Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter 
answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal 
life. — John vi, 67, 6i. 

& *?OME faithless hearts have fled: 

I They could not bear the pureness, or the scorning, 
And went away, as from among the dead 
'^i Foul thino;s of darkness ffo when breaketh mornina:. 



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" And will ye leave me too ? 
On whom my love hath lighted, with long yearning 

Of tenderest grace and truth, such as the dew 
Hath for the flowers it cools 'mid tropic burning ? 

" Ye, whom I loved to teach, 
Familiar things for heavenly symbols taking. 

Clothing all nature with diviner speech ; 
Will ye go, like the world, your Lord forsaking ? " 

"We bow 'ncatli Thy rebuke. 
As children, grieved at some kind mother's chiding, 
Who see her love come flashing through her look, 
As suns through mist — more welcome for the hidinj^c- 



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We ask, Ijewildered in our grief and wonder. 



The tired earth singeth to her pitying angel. 



Denials cannot change 



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11 The human cannot waste its life in siffhinjj, 

I Nor gaze upon the sun till smitten blind, J 

^*' Nor ever ask, where all forl^ears rei^lying. 1 

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Y* Great nature hath no balms ; ( 

1^ O'erarching skies sound forth no glad evangel ; •?* 

ht And misereres mingle mth the jDsalms 'f" 



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i,|r God hath united ; we may not estrange r' 

\ This dying life and that eternal being. >' 






Death comes — but what Ijeyond ? J. 

J^* Some Stygian shore ? some weird-like rest or roaming ? 1 

Or is it A(??ne, where welcomes wann and fond '1'^ 

Glance through the lattice, and light up the gloaming ? j] 



5^- O life ! eternal life ! ^ 

■% Prize of the bouncUng spirit's vast ambition ; '5r 

Hail to the warrior's doom or martyr's strife, ^- 

If we may hope for this enrapturing vision ! r^- 

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SABBATH CHIMES. 



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To wliom shall we repair ? 
Mute are the oracles — the olden sages 

Mock with their dumb lijjs our imijloring prayer, 
Which, answerless, moans downward through the ages. 

No light ! no rest below ! 
Our hearts are weary, and our voices falter ; 

Ah whither shall om* anguished spirits go ? 
Lord ! be thy love om" plea — thy cross our altar I 

All, all we want are thine ! 
Greek beauty, Roman rcv'rence, in thee blended, 

And nature glows into a holy shrine ; 
And form is spirit's robe — and doubt is ended. 

We seek no other rest ; 
But as the swan smoothes down her rufHed pinion 

In the wave-mirror of the lakelet's breast, 
We, blest and calm, repose in thy dominion. 



The truth of all we see 
Speaks from thy lips — all discords reconciling ; 

Jesus, our Lord ! we pray, we cling to thee, 
Stoop from thy throne, and bless us with thy smiling. 






That smile were present heaven 
Let down upon the soul, no longer lonely. 

All darkness banished if thyself be given ; 
We see, need, long for naught — save " Jesus only." 



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Triuitij. 



XXV. 



It shall come to pass, that he that is left iu Zion, and he that remain- 
eth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written 
among the living in Jernsalem: when the Lord shall have washed 
away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the 
blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, 
and by the spirit of burning. — Isaiah iv, 3, 4. 



I^HILE fast the darkling year decays, 
And speed our hurrying moments on, 
Wc^^ Shall not the ancient symbols blaze, 
"^ ^ '"^ ' In blessing, on our guarded ways, 

Till from the deseil gone ? 



Or must we rise to holy deed. 

Ere in our van the cloud will go 
Througli each wild waste our steps to lead ? 
Or ere shall shine, for nightly need. 

The mystic jjillar's glow ? 




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Then, Lord, each wishful heart i^repare 
Thy promised presence soon to win ; 
Nor e'en thy sharper trials spare : 
We will or sword or burning bear, 

So we be purged of sin. 



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'Twere easy, 'mid the battle's blast, 

To front the foe without dismay, 

When music plays, and friends stand fast ; — 

But, wiien on lonelier warfare cast, 

'Tis harder to obey. 

To pine aloof, 'mid \'ictories won — 

To lose the guerdon, dearly prized — 
The work, we longed to compass, done. 
Accomplished by some meaner one 

"Whose aid our strength despi .ed- 

To be content in hermit cells, 

Nor murmur in our helpless thrall, 
Wliile from the warrior bosom swells 
The pride in which all valor dwells. 

And sounds the bugle-call — 

To work, like lightnings on the dark. 

And leave no trace, nor memory long. 
No friend to bid the world to hark 
Its newest teacher ; none to mark. 

Or set our names in song — 

To sit while stealthy slander tears, 

As children rags, our good repute, 
Until we breathe in poisoned airs, 
And know no healing, save in prayers. 

Yet be sublimely mute — 



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6' A BEAT II CU IMES. 

To feel tliat all our cherisliorl joys, 

And luxuries of happy tears, 
Are gone, like a forgotten voice, 
Or like an infant's broken toys. 

Wrecks of the golden years — 

Ay, these are heights of faith and hope 

To which but few have strength to cliinl); 
And those who earthward delve and grope 
Arc faint of heart and limb to cope 

With such a toil sublime. 

O for the power these heights to scale, 

These Xelx)s of the prophet's fate. 
Where airs from heaven are on the gale. 
And tVoni the crest, without a vail, 

We see the jasper gate ! 



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For this, until the hagtjard morn, 

AYi! wrestle in unequal strifi; ; 
And when with our long labor worn. 
In Peniel-strength we '' lift the horn,'' 

Like athletes, crowned for life — ■ 



For this — all Avelcomc pain and loss. 

If through their pangs Thy presence came ! 
Be ours the baptism of the cross ! 
If else we may not lose the dross. 

Enkindle Thou the flame! 



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But that the tire may surely burn 

All sordid, sensual thought away, 
Lord ! by the fiu'nace watch, and yearn, 
Till from the silver's heart return 

Thine image, bright as day. 



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O teach us lowly to remain. 

Without one murmur at thy feet ; 
Nor of the heaviest cross comi^lain. 
Till thou each docile spirit train 

Into thy will complete ! 










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XXVI. 

And he brought him to Jesus. — John i, 42. 

HERE is a love defies the years 
To loose its clasp, or quench its fire ; 
^(^Si^ A love which jjeril more endears, 

Like flames which blaze in tempests higher. 

A love which bears its steadf\ist part 

The readiest when 'tis needed most, 
And shows alike its Ijrother-hcart 

'Mid sneers of lilame and smiles of boast. 

And when one soul, of truth in quest, 
Some glorious Alpine reach hatli won, 

And knows the other, yet uublest. 

Toils through the dark to greet the sun, — 

His In-other first he hastes t' iiivite, 

To join him on the sunny slope, 
Whence l)urst upon the wond'ring sight 

Majestic views of faith and hope. 

The links that bound the generous boys. 
Who leaped the Ijrook, or roamed the field, 

Are welded by the manlier joys 

Of doul^t disioersed, and truth revealed. 




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SABBATH CHI ME a. 

'Tis ever thus. Who Jesus finds 
Must all abroad the tidings speak. 

Not for the hoard of miser minds 

The heaven-light spreads from peak to peak. 

The power which strikes from charger's hoof; 

The might of the resplendent main ; 
The regal thought which dwells aloof 

In some imperial poet's brain ; 

The burnish of the argentine ; 

The scent which sleeps in folded lid ; 
Not for themselves their grand design : 

Where power is lodged, there use is hid. 




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Each spendthrift moment swells th' amount 
Of power abused or run to waste ; 

And each augments the vast account 
To which the circling seasons haste. 




O, wherefore in disdainful sloth 

Fold we our arms, while at our door 

He stands unknown to whom our troth 
Of fealty and love we swore ? 

The lireathless M'orld awaits the sign ; 

Its heart is sick — it beats so strong ; 
Shall we, who know the Lord, combine 

To cheat its hope— its pain prolong ? 



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As well our traitorous bands were lift, 
Like Cain's, on murder's purpose bent. 

To each — to all — we liear the gift : 
Heirs of a l)etter testament. 

If, in some boliday of grace. 

We went to this new Rabbi's home. 
And found, within that lowly place, 
A wisdom strange to loftier dome ; 

There yet is room. The heart of Christ 
Will no poor heart of man contemn ; 

And He, who all our need sutliced. 
Is all they need to comfort them. 



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Thou Shalt rememoer all the way which the Lord thy God hath led 
thee. — Deutekonomy viii, 2. 



;r^^\ljP^i?^nE year has wrought its mystic rede, 
\ ^E Its hours have passed with fleetest sj)eed, 
p^^l Its thought hath ripened into deed. 

Its marvel and its mystery o'er, 
Its promise grand of gift or store 
Flushes the fevered cheek no more. 

It held along its restless course, 
As o'er the plain some fiery horse, 
Without repose, without remorse. 

Reckless if weal or woe betide. 

If ban or boon be scattered wide ; 

Though some have lived, and some have died. 

Though some, beneath the pitying moon, 
Have struggled, paled, and fallen soon ; 
Some blazed throuoh twilight into noon. 






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And it lias died at last ; though mii-th 
Ushered it to the expecting earth, 
And bells rang at its joyous birth. 

On, s-u-ift and stern the puqiose runs. 
The year, vaih all its pomp of suns. 
Is miied amid the olden ones. 



But, ere its solemn funeral, 
It let its mantle-memory tail. 
In last l^equeathment, on us all. 

The memories of its various times 
Dwell in the tranceful ear, like chimes, 
Or music of some old-world rhymes. 

These memories — distinct, deep-lined— 
Light up each traveled path behind. 
Like fitful fire-lights, to the mind. 



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To some they cling like curse of Cain, 
Down pressing, on the liurdened braui, 
Some torturing thought of giant pain. 



To others, like a falling star. 

They bring glad tidings, rich and far, 

From worlds where light and beauty are. 



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Mutely the thronging visions pass ; 
Old joys, old griefs, in mingling mass, 
Vivid, minute, as in a glass. 

Each peril, once so darkly feared, 

Each omen, sinister and weird, 

Each fonder home-thought, twice endeared. 

No single feature softened down, 
Each joy its smile has, and its croAvn, 
Each grief its old original frown. 

It cannot be that life shall end 

In the dark grave o'er which we bend 

When memory hath no death for friend. 

And as we muse, the truths licneath 
Flash forth as from an inner sheath ; 
The lessons which all years bequeath , 

That, 'mid the tumult and unrest. 
Thick mists upon the mountam's bieust, 
God's sun is glad ujiou the crest. 

That wrong is but the slave of x'lght, 
And soon the day shall burst in sight, 
And earth be steeped in heaven-light. 



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j^2^ And sweet the sleep which follows pain, 
yT^ , And sweetly steals the Sabbath rest 
'^ / Upon the world's w^ork-wearied breast. 



Of heaven the sign — of earth the calm ! 
The poor man's Ijirthright and his lialm ! 
God's witness of celestial things ! 
A sun " with healing in its wings." 

New nsing in this Gospel time, 
And in its sevenfold light sul)lime ; 
Blest day of God ! we hail the dawn, 
To gratitude and worship drawn. 

Through the hot world, from weeK to week, 
'Twere vain the soul's repose to seek ; 
But on the Sabbath's restful air 
Is Nature's voiceless call to prayer. 

O'er all the quiet landscape spreads 
A hush, like that which evening sheds 
Wlien sounds are still, and flowers are furled, 
And shadows wrap the slumb'ring world. 



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190 SABBATH JTTUrES. 

As Ijirds which, scared by sound of wars, 
Fly up to nest among the stars, 
But come to their familiar troe 
Wlien earth to list their song is free ; 




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So holy thoughts will flee the breast 
By travail of the week oppressed, 
But when the psalms of Sabbath rise 
Will hasten downward from the skies. 

But e'en the Sabbath charms to cheat, 
Unless the answering soul is meet, 
No rest the hallowed hours impart. 
Save only to the hallow'ed heart. 



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Whether our faith in temples pleads. 
Or love is bent on duteous deeds ; 
Or lingering sickness gasps and pines 
For meekest trust in God's designs ; 



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Or erring stejjs are kmdly borne 
From scenes of shame or seats of scorn ; 
Whene'er we come with covenant new, 
O Saviour ! teach us to be true. 

O, naught of gloom and naught of pride 
Should -udth the sacred hours abide ; 
At work for God — in loved employ 
We lose the duty in the joy. 



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Breathe on us, Lord ! our sins forgive, 
And make us strong in faith to live ; 
Our utmost, sorest need supply. 
And make us strong; in faith to die. 



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"^.^^^^''NOTHER Sabbath sun is down, 



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Gray twilight creeps o'er thorp and town; 
How much of sorrow, unconfessed, 



"^I^^Jj Lies liidden in yon dark'ning West ! 

Wliat Ijurdens uncomplaining borne, 
What masks o'er latent anguish worn, 
What pangs of heart-l^reak, jalots of sin, 
Have this ni split's shadows folded in ! 



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We woke to-day with anthems sweet 
To sing before the mercy-seat. 
And ere the darkness round us fell 
We bade the grateful vespers swell. 

Wliate'er has risen from heart sincere. 
Each upward glance of filial fear, 
Each litany devoutly prayed. 
Each gift upon thine altar laid, 

Each tear regretful of the past. 
Each longing o'er the future cast, 
Each brave resolve, each spoken vow, 
Jesus, our Lord ! accept them now. 



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Whate'er beneath thy searching eyes 
lias wrought to siioil our sacrifice ; 
Aught of presumption, over bold, 
The dross we vainly brought for gold ; 

If we have knelt at alien shrine, 
Or insincerely bowed at thine. 
Or basely offered " blind and lame," 
Or blushed beneath unholy shame ; 

Or — craven jjrophets — turned, to flee 
When duty bade us speak for thee ; 
'Mid this sweet stillness, while we ))ow, 
Jesus, our Lord, forgive us now ! 

O let each following Salibath yield 
For our loved work an ampler field, 
A sturdier hatred of the wrong, 
A stronger liurj^ose to grow strong : 

And teach us erring souls to win, 
And " hide " their " multitude of sin ; " 
To tread in Christ's long-sufi''ring way, 
And grow more like him day by day. 

So as our Sabbaths hasten past. 
And rounding years bring nigh the last ; 
When sinks the sun behind the hill. 
When all the " weary wheels " stand still ; 



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"When by our bed the loved ones weep, 
And death-dews o'er the forehead creep, 
And vain is help or hope from men ; 
Jesus, our Lord, receive us then I 



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Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, 
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, 
and good-will toward men. — Luke ii, 13, 14. 

T ,^i^"'^/UDDEN," as if there could not be repressed 
"^^ The hidden rapture of the heaven longer, 
^^C The song burst forth ; like a soul-burden, stronger 
■^ / By dint of constant hiding in the breast. 



And as that revelry of praise increased, 

And o'er the heedful, silent plain resounded ; 
O, how the rapt hearts of the watchers bounded, 

Nor knew, entranced, when the loved music ceased ! 



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Never before did heavenly minstrels note 

Earth's answer with theirs blending, like a minor ; 
And still those strains, than all our strains' diviner, 

On through the world and down the ages float. 



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The charter of our fi-eedom, ne'er reversed ! 

The glorious feast to which our God hath bidden ! 

The pledge and earnest of a goodlier Eden 
Than ever Adam tilled, or Satan cursed ! 



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198 SABBATH CHIMES. 

Ears deaf to other anthems hark to this, 

And long that each blest cadence ne'er may alter; 
'Tis the bowed earth's involuntary psalter, 

Her j)erfect utterance of perfect bliss. 



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I " Glory to God ! " for that sublime descent, ^p^ 

\ Which showed the greater Godhead in the stooping ^ 

■^ Homeward to lead poor exiles, faintly di'ooping | 

W In sad remorse and desert discontent ! 1|L 



f*^ " Glory to God !" 'mong angel thrones and ranks, '\ 

;jv For the unutterable joy of raising ^ 

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■m Sinners to seraphs, endless in their praising ; "|^ 

%, Stirred by the voiceless heart, whose throbs are thanks ! "^ 

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^l"^ " And peace on earth !" The strain hath gentler airs, '%^ 

L. Which strike upon each ruffled chord of feeling, "f^ 

S^ As sunlight on a saintly maiden, kneeling 

if With hushed face, by a sick bed, at her prayers. 



I "Peace on the earth!" We listen, and grow calm, A 

\ When doubt has darkened, or when pain convulses ; ^ 

'I E'en the wild leaps of passion's fever-pulses ^ 

'^ Are still as childhood's, 'neath the healing balm. \ 

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.^ " Good- will to men " — if but their souls respond. %' 

'S> Men whose calm In-ows are ever lifted sunward, ^- 

%^ , Who are by heavenly voices guided onward W- 

J7 To where God lives, of homes and hearts the bond. ■-^ 



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" Good- will to men," of every speech or clime. 

The advent one — the kindness universal ! 

The world is summoned to the glad rehearsal ! 
Learner of harper's skill and minstrel's chime! 

O, sorcery rare ! oft have its 'trancing spells, 

More potent when the storm-clouds gathered denser, 
Breathed fragrance on the air — as in the censer 

The " linked sweetness " of all flowers dwells. 

Father in heaven ! we bless thee for the song ! 

It melts into our hearts, and makes them warmer; 

It stirs us to i^ut on the wanior's armor. 
And in thy name do Ijattle with the wrong. 

Father in heaven ! we bless thee for the Child ! 

For in him thou hast blest with endless blessing ; 

No reach of good — no gift beyond our guessing, 
Is lacking now, \dx\\ Jesus reconciled. 

And all the human joy these seasons know 
Is but a solemn act of recognition — 
A silent homage, paid to that blest vision. 

Of Him ; — the Lord in heaven — the Child below. 



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When they were come to the place that is called Calvary, there they 

crucified him. — Luke xxiii, 33. 
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer.— Luke xxiv, 46. 

//j^^mf^ CLOSE the book, and seal the seal, 
f ^±j.W And let the vail drop over all ; 
^^^^4 Would that oblivion could conceal 
§^z^ What memoiy shudders to recall ! 



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'Twas here, on this accursed hill, 

" Without the gate," the deed was done, 

WTiich made the vexed earth's heart to thrill, 
And darkened th' indignant sun. 

Here rose the taunts of cruel scorn, 
Here hung the felons by His side ; 

Less vile than they who wove the thorn. 
And reared the cross on which He died. 

Well might the night overspread the day, 
As darkness ruled e'er time began. 

When He, whom heavenly hosts obey, 
" Was made a curse " for sinful man. 



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" Was made a curse ; " but never yet 
Did curse such fruit of blessing bear ; 
For all our sin, and doom, and debt, 
By costliest price were canceled tliere. 

Hence, more tban other. Calvary's sloi^es 
Invite the pilgrim-feet to stray, 

As some fair shrine, where buried hopes 
Love has embalmed to cheat decay. 

The full heart here, all shrines above, 
Its wealthier adoration pours ; 

In sight of that all-suffering love, 
The eyes may weep, the faith adores. 






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'Tis not the life, divinely jjure, 
And even more divinely kind : 

'Tis not the power all ills to cure. 

Nor flash earth's beauty on the blind: 

'Tis not that loaves to banquets grew 
"Whene'er He willed the thousands fed : 

Nor, at His word, that life anew 

Quickened the swathed or bm-ied dead : 

'Tis not His teaching, though He spake 
The wisest words to human thought ; 

Words, which the proud ones oft mistake. 
But sweetly to the child-heart taught : 
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Life, healing, teacliing ! in all these 
Some i^urpose and some lesson lie; 

But faith the deeper mystery sees, 

" That it behoved " the " Christ to die." 



To die, not in oblation vain. 
The seal to all his words to give ; 

Not in the martyr's scom of pain ; 
To die that all the world might live ! 






O for the heart this truth to learn, 
Erewhile too darkly understood ! 

We for the living Saviour yearn ; 
Our trust is in the sjDrinkled blood 1 



And while by faith we humbly cling 
To Christ the crucified alone, 

Each to his cross our sins would biing, 
Eager to crucify our own. 






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And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and 
blessed them. And it came to pass while he Messed them, he was 
parted from them, and carried up into heaven. — Luke xxiv, 50, 51. 

>' »'«stY*t:iE led them fortb," as oft before, 
Along the dear, familiar way ; 
^ J ,YF- But on that long-remembered day 
r^ h The road seemed shorter than of yore. 

Before the lightning leajis to kill 

Dread hush comes o'er the swooning air; 
And so, oppressed by nameless care, 

Each felt as if his heart stood still. 




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Smitten with sense of fear or pain ; 

Yet all unconscious whence it sprang, 
And mindful only of a pang 

As if its fibers cleft in twain. 




"He led them forth," and sweetly loth 
To lose one human memory here. 
His home of love, his haunt of fear, 

The road to triumph neared them both. 



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" He led them forth," where many a shrine 
Of tender truth their hearts had piled, 
And many a mood and hour beguiled 

With affluent talk on things divine. 



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And love had lingered there so long 

That all around seemed charm and token ; 
So there its last word must be spoken, 

Or it would grieve with sense of wrong. 




And where but from the "house of woe" 
Could loftiest songs of triumph rise ? 
Do not our own sad Bethanies 

Distill the subtlest joys we know ? 

Unvail the heavenly worlds afar ? 

Till, purged and strong, the upward faith 
Can hear what each crowned hari)er saith, 

And worship where the angels are ? 

And now upon the mount He stands. 
With heaven already on his brow ; 
Who dares to doubt his Godhead now ? 

And blesses them with lifted hands. 

" He blessed them" — this the great design 
For which incarnate God came down, 
To weave, of mortal thorns, the crown ; 

To turn earth's water into wine. 



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SABBATH CHI3IES. 

His life was blessing. When He spoke 

The tempest slept, the winds were balm, 
Demoniacs hushed in kindest calm, 

The iron bands in sunder broke, 



205 






The famine fled from hollow eyes, ^ 

The desert dreams of death were past, 
The four days' dead, though charneled fast, 

Awoke to life mth sweet suqjrise. 



And now, while the cloud-chariots wait. 
And angel-guards to tend Him throng, 
'Mid radiant host and seraph song. 

He pauses, e'en at heaven's gate, 

To shed his latest blessing roimd : 

And while their swelling hearts yet leap 
And quiver 'neath its music deep, 

A rush of winffs — and He is crowned ! 



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Not flushed with conqueror's selfish pride. 
But calm and kingly, He ascends ; 
His last thought here is for his friends, 

His first in heaven, their fears to chide, 

For as they awe-struck wait, and dumb, 
The white-robed heralds whisper low, 
" Why stand ye gazing upward so ? 

A second time your Lord shall come." 



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Beyond dark clouds and jasper walls 
We, blinded, cannot see the track. 
We may not wish the projihct back, 

Nor gaze until his mantle falls. 



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We fain would with our Lord ascend ; 
But we are frail. O Saviour ! keep, 
And witness, ere we fall on sleep, 

" Who loves us, loveth to the end." 





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iVi^j^^'I^I^'Gr all your new-bom joj-s, 
"^^The rapture which you almost fear to feel, 
3^'^"*^^ i" one cov'nant anthem give them voice, 
^~A The while you lowly kneel. 



Pay unto Heaven your vows ! 
Come laden inchlier than with turtle doves ! 
Offer your faij-est— offer in God's house 

The children of your loves ! 

Not ])assed through Moloch-tire; 
Not as the saciiticial tirstling, slain ; 
But rendered, as the music from the lyre, 

For praise and not for bane. 

With swell of inward song, 
And the heart's wrestling litanies of prayer, 
Give them to Him to whom yourselves belong ; 
Commit them to His care. 

Biing them in robes of white — 
Robes of the penitent— the dead— the blest ; 
The inner grace, which shineth through the rite. 
Will dower them of the best. 



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SA DBA TH C II TMES. 

Not, as l)y sorcerer's charm, 
To rise renewed from the baptismal flood, 
But given to Christ, to feel his circling arm 
Enibldcth every good. 

'Twill not be all in vain. 
If faith abideth by the sacred ark ; 
But on the child, e'en in the holy fane, 

Will Jesus set his mark. 

Seal of the cov'nant new. 
While the bright chrism yet rests upon the face, 
As on the flow'rets rest the morning dew — 
Token of future grace. 

Yes! bring the children soon ! 
Christ will not utter one reproachful word, 
But " suffer them " that they may take the boon 
By royal hands conferred. 

An angel guard to fence 
The young soul from its early perils round ! 
And waft the slumber from the droning sense 
Ui^on enchanted ground. 

Supply of daily strength 
Awaiting use, amid earth's burd'ning cares ; 
Help springing out of trouble ; and, at length. 
Answers to vialed prayers. 



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Until all-dedicate, 
Theii* -willing souls fi'om evil forces freed, 
The blessing falleth on the heart and state. 

And they are Christ's indeed 1 

Then ye ■who frankly give. 
And they, the tender nurslings of your love, 
Linked by one bond eternally, shall live 
One family above. 



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The Larxl^s Supper* 

This do in remembrance of Me. — Luke xxii, 19. 

Ye do show the Lord's death till he come. — 1 Cobinthians xl, 26. 



S'EAR pledge of love divinely true, 
The rainbow of the covenant new, 
Symbol of peace, 'mid sacred strife, 
1^ Spanning the stormy heaven of life. 

How the blest bond each sj^irit brings 
From common cares to holy things ; 
And bids both hope and mem'ry wake 
In loving watch, for Jesus' sake ! 

If nations, in their grateful praise, 
Columns to wise or valiant raise ; 
K some tall mound, or guarded tree, 
Hallow the shrines of liberty ; 

If relics of dear days gone by 

Are hoarded from rude gazer's eye. 

And cherished with extremest care. 

And linked with life, and blessed by prayer ; 

Be this our sign ! that Christ hath wrought 
Triumph for us, transcending thought ; 
Be this our gauge ! that Christ doth bear 
Deep love for us, beyond compare. 



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Like those old songs we ne'er forget, 
So rise and fall the accents yet, 
" I go to leave you. Ye are mine. 
Come, eat the bread, and drink the wine. 



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" Take at my hands this latest boon. 
Ye will a tend'rer memory soon ; 
And when my face no more ye see 
By this — my blood — remember me." 



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Somids, 'plaining still that dear bequest, 
Of Christian faith the badge and test ; 
Last message to the Church below, 
" My death until my coming show." 



Link — to assure our hearts — the twain. 
Future of worship — past of pain, 
Session of judgment — blast of scorn, 
That, crown of glory— this, of thorn. 

And as, sometimes, when words would fail. 
The kindling eye takes up the tale. 
And speaks in light, though not in sound, 
Its prophecy to all around ; 




So let this living symbol teach 
More eloquent than human speech. 
The Saviour died. Our sins he bore. 
The Saviour lives, " to die no more." 



212 S ABB ATS CHIMES. 

Here while we wait, in rev'rent fear, 
Longing, yet trembling, to draw near, 
Waiting for some celestial sign, 
Some warrant from the lips Divine ; 

O breathe the life into the bread ! 
And let our himg'ring hearts be fed ! 
The power into the cup inspire, 
To slake our soul-thirst of desire ! 

Let us the mount of vision scale, 
And pierce the skies, and pass the vail, 
And hear th' adoring harpers' tone. 
And see " the rainbow romid the throne." 

Then turn from these blest sights away, 
To work and win as conqu'rors may, 
Thy braver witnesses to be. 
Constraining men — and worthy Thee. 



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iw '^ S voyagers on a lake, 
wMk. Beyond some wooded knoll or headland 
^h ^Y glancing, 

^X^jy/fl Through the wild shimmer of the sun- 
light dancing 
O'er heathery hill and brake ; 



The while Tvith joy they thrill, 
Are longing to intensify the feeling, 
And sure each glowing change, o'er landscape stealing, 

Will show scenes lovelier still ; 

So, on life's changeful sea, 
Now calm, now storm-swept, hearts which sail together, 
Can find their bliss in clear or low'ring weather, 

Yet long stUl more to see ; 

And join their vent'rous hands 
Together the dark future to unravel ; 
Deeming the twain are stronger for the travel 

Into mysterious lands. 



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O, sacred wedded love ! 
To-day come trooj)ing Mends with kindly token, 
Breathing heart-blessings which lips leave unspoken. 

But which are heard above. 

Heaven wafts her gentlest airs. 
New radiance lights all ordinary places, 
And all the features of familiar faces 

Grow bright — as if with prayers. 

A blessing on the bond ! 
The sacred link of those already plighted, 
Not for this wasting world alone united, 

But for the vast beyond. 

On this remembered morn, 
When hope and memory, in a solemn meeting, 
Give to each other holy tryst and greeting. 

Be a blest future born ! 







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While in th' mutual troth 
Each guileless heart in surest trust reposes ; 
May faith entwine, of her fair heavenly roses, 

Life-coronets for both. 

The flowers along th' aisle 

Be of life's path the ever-blooming symbol ; 

And the life-music — more than clang of cymbal- 
Kind voice and sunny smUe. 



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Rapture without regret ! 
A fire witli love for its loerennial fuel ; 
The chrysolite of life ; a costly jewel 

In a home-casket set. 

A blessing on the twain 
Made one to-day in new communion mystic I 
May fragrant clouds, in baptism eucharistic, 

Bless each with gracious rain ! 

And the kind sun for aye 
Shine on the home, sweet light of Heaven providing, 
The home where dwelleth Christ — therein abiding 

As in each heart to-day ! 

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Bufial ttf the Bmd. 

ERCHANCE we watclied around the bed 
The fading of each nameless grace, 
The life-light ebbing from the face, 
'W^ Until the last slow wave had sped, 
And left us gazing on the cold, unanswering dead. 

The dead ! what wonder in the word ! 

From thought and feeling strangely mute ; 
No music in the broken lute 
To be by man or nature stin-ed ; 
Heedless of streamlet's voice, or lay of household bird. 

The cypress is their only wreath ; 

And grief above them gasps and sobs ; 

You would not tliink what reljel throbs, — 
As if a sword should chafe its sheath, — 
Shook their wild hearts a week since. Now they 

sleep beneath. 

We pass below the somber yews, 

Which all the greening barrows guard ; 
And tread the still and rank church-yard, — 

That lone, stern path which none refuse ; 
While all the world seems draped in solemn funeral 
hues. 






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They rest ; — but we, tlie living, pom* 

Our soul-rain on their opened graves ; 
Such small relief our nature craves. 
They knew our heart's true love before ; 
Haply — not all unconscious — now they know it more. 

And we to them give juster praise : 

As those who, upward, from a mine, 
See through the fainter daylight shine 

Some steadfast star's imquenching blaze. 
We see, through the dark tomb, their white and 
blameless rays. 

"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust." 
Of all our love, is this the end ? 
Is nothing left us of our friend 
But treasured page, or marble bust. 
And leal life-memories of in^dolate truth and trust? 

To sense no more. But faith can Ijid 
The shadows from the soul uplift. 
And own again the vanished gift, 
Spite of the lying coffin-lid. 
Only in trance of pause, our loved are from us hid. 

Cast on the waveless lake yom* eye, 
And in the mirror of its breast, 
The cots — the pines — the snowy crest — 

All in the depths reflected lie ; 
And, stretched in azure arch, serene and broad the sky: 




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So Faith, when weeping over tombs, 
Sees Easter-symbols in the clod. 
Hills which go climbing up to God, 

A fragrant wealth of heavenly blooms, 
And far beyond, the glory of the golden domes. 

Sorrow may not become despair ; 

For Christ hath in the charnel lain 
To turn its sore disgrace to gain. 

He will both grave and crown prejDare ; 
Who shed a Saviour's blood, will show a Saviour's care. 



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I lE'DEX or FIRST LIi^ES. ¥ 






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AxOTHER Sabbath sun is down 192 



'l As on some queenh' forehead sliiiies a rare and cosily gem . ... 37 

¥" As swiftly Hies the startled dove 76 

i^ As travelers o'er some darksome waste 82 

As voyagers on a lake 215 



Bring all your new-burn joys 207 

By triries, in our common ways 15 

Closer to Christ the loved ones grew 88 

Close sheltered ia some tVaLcrant nook 14G 



:>jL Down the dark vale of lime full man^' a glance 18 .|,, 

h Dear pledge of love divinely true 210 -J 

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■?^- Encircled as by angel bands 137 -^'' 

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^i^ Faith speaks, while sense is dumb and sad 115 j 

' £" Father 1 from all things marred and base 94 8 

•^ Fiercely on Salem's towers and hills 56 ;!■ 

>is Fierce through the land the invader sweeps 60 -J, 

IL Forth through the solemn street 151 -J'- 



Glad welcomes float around 130 

Great are thy works, God ! and sought 63 



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^^^ INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 

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Hand in hand through all our ways 118 

He coniL'th not, although we sent him tidings 1G4 

" He led thein forth," as ofl before 203 

Lord, wilt thou now the tiirone restore? 85 

O'er Gennesaret, mountain-lionlered 40 

close tlie book, and seal the seal 200 

there are times of saddest slirift 170 

speak not thus to hearts all palpitating 22 

wherefore should those hands of love 13 

wiio can tell of tlie sower's cares 46 

Perchance we watched around tlie bed 218 

Room for the last and largest grace 49 

Shake from the soul its sloth ! . . . 155 

Some faithless hearts have Hed 176 

Speak not of trifles light as air 28 

Stately on Shinar's ancient plain 91 

" Sudden," as if tiiere covild not be repressed 197 

Sweet is the sunlight after rain 189 

The furrows are straightly drawn 34 

The hour is come 1 'tis thus He wakes G6 

Tiie eldest-born of God rejoiced ]43 

The restful look which angels wear 43 

The year has wrought its mystic rede 186 

There are who say the world is drear 104 

Tliere are would earth and heaven divorce 109 

There is a love defies the years 1 8;i 

There's winter on tlie hills to-day 53 

They cast him fortii, tierce in tiieir rage and iiate 25 

'Tis early morn. Come, cross the brook 70 

Two fields for toil — tlie outer and tlie inner 101 



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INDEX OF FIRST LINES. SSS 

Page 

Unconscious sowers, scattering seed 1 7H 

Upon the temple's glittering floors 100 

fWhatisitthatHesaith? 79 

. What time, in twilight hour, the wains 140 

JJ, When art has grasped some graceful dream 121 

^ Where is the rest we long to gain ? 30 

-^4 While fast the darkling year decays 179 

»^^ Who will doubt that wishful mother 158 

I , Who would not learn a lore like this 112 

"^ With brow upraised, as one who sees his peers 133 

A' With large round wonder in tiieir ej'es 167 

%, With lightnings belted, cloud and tempests broke 11 

\ With siglitless eyes and silver hair ' 1 2-1 






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